"The first question you need to ask when evaluating this plan is whether a worker with a sick spouse, a seriously injured child, or a dying parent would be able to take the time off from work that their family needs without losing their paycheck or their job. It must be affordable for working families, it must level the playing field for small businesses, and it must treat all workers throughout the country the same. These are the biggest tests for whether or not it is a workable paid leave program. Unfortunately, the president’s plan falls woefully short of passing that test. This plan is a nonstarter because families would still have to choose between a paycheck and their families at the moment when they can least afford it. I encourage the President and all of my colleagues in both parties to support the FAMILY Act, which is a comprehensive paid leave bill modeled on successful state programs that businesses and workers widely support." -