WASHINGTON—Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., issued the following statement about a provision in the fiscal 2011 federal budget that establishes a State Paid Leave Fund within the Department of Labor:

“I want to applaud the President for allocating $50 million in the 2011 budget for a competitive grants program to help states start up paid family leave programs.  I also call on Congress to pass HR 2339, the FIRST (Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions) Act, which I introduced last year. It authorizes $1.5 billion in grants to states to implement and improve state paid family leave programs.  The grants also can be used for start-up activities to promote state programs, wage replacement, and incentives to small businesses to provide job protection to employees who require time away from work to meet family needs.

“While we ultimately need a national paid leave program, the State Paid Leave Fund and the FIRST Act would be good first steps and will make it much easier for workers who need time off for the birth of a child or to take care of a sick loved one.”