Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Wednesday that paid leave will be included in the Democrats’ reconciliation bill after having been …
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Wednesday that paid leave will be included in the Democrats’ reconciliation bill after having been excluded earlier in a compromise draft of the legislation. In a “ Dear Colleague ” letter, Pelosi discussed the progress made in advancing the bill over the past week. She said of the $1.75 trillion compromise bill, “While it was a reduction in dollars from the original $3.5 trillion package, it was not a reduction in values.” However, for many Democrats, it was a reduction in values. Since the White House announced the deal Thursday, progressives have demanded that paid family leave be included in the final draft, and have continued to threaten to tank the moderate-preferred infrastructure bill if their demands are not met. Pelosi acquiesced to these demands, writing “I have asked the Ways and Means Committee for its legislation for Paid Family and Medical Leave to be included in [the Ways and Means] hearing.” Pelosi applauded the change, saying “Today is another momentous day in our historic effort to make the future better for the American people, For The Children, to Build Back Better With Women, to save the planet.” However, Democrats have a long way to go before they can pass a paid leave program.
