Proposal Demonstrates Biden Follow Through on Campaign Promise that “Help Is on the Way”
Lisa Guide, co-founder of the Women Effect Action Fund (WEAF), released the following statement tonight in response to President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 plan:
“This package of critical investments, including paid family leave and paid sick days, demonstrates President-elect Biden’s immediate follow through on his campaign promise to the American people that ‘help is on the way.’ Millions of families who are experiencing a care crisis now have federal leadership that will remove the roadblocks to health, safety and economic stability that COVID has put in their way. Americans from suburban, rural and urban communities want Congress to pass these critical investments. We know this is vital to the survival of so many families and members of Congress will pay a political price if they refuse to act.”
Background
- Biden’s plan would expand and extend the emergency paid family leave and paid sick days policies that Congress originally passed as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
- The plan will ensure Americans can stay home when they’re sick to limit the spread of the virus and that parents with new caregiving responsibilities due to school and childcare closures are able to care for their children.
- The FFCRA paid leave and paid sick programs expired at the end of 2020 due to the failure of Republican leadership to support an extension, despite the fact that they were proven to decrease daily COVID infections by 400 cases per state per day in states that previously had no paid sick policy.
- The plan would also increase tax credits to help cover the cost of childcare, ensuring families will get back as a tax credit as much as half of their spending on childcare for children under age 13, for a total of up to $4,000 for one child or $8,000 for two or more children.
Polling
Recently, WEAF conducted a 10-state battleground poll that showed voters care deeply about care economy policies including paid family and medical leave and paid sick days. These care economy voters are an emerging force in American politics. In 2020, battleground suburban voters swung decisively towards Biden, supporting him 56% to 42% and they were extremely supportive of the care economy agenda:
- 86% support tax credits for caring for older and disabled relatives
- 83% support for caregivers for older and disabled adults
- 78% support paid sick leave
- 77% support national paid family and medical leave
- 76% support affordable childcare