👀 I’m Just a Bill — FAMILY Act (Paid Family and Medical Leave)

A Liana Banyan “I’m Just a Bill” Bounty Poster

What is this bill?

The FAMILY Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program — comparable to programs in California, New York, New Jersey, and most peer countries.

What does it actually do?

• 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, serious illness (own or family member), or military caregiver needs.
• Funded by small payroll contributions (~0.2% from employees + 0.2% from employers).
• Administered by SSA’s Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave.
• Wage replacement: Up to 66% of usual wages, capped.
• Coverage: All workers regardless of employer size.

Who votes when?

• Senate Finance + House Ways & Means: Active consideration
• Bipartisan negotiations: Funding mechanism is the major obstacle
• President: Signature dependent on chamber action

How does this affect cooperative-class families?

Composes directly with #5 The Family Table ($11T unpaid-care-work adversary framing) and #1 Let’s Make Dinner (parental leave allows time for cooperative-food-network participation). Federal paid leave is the safety-net floor; cooperative mutual-aid is the structural complement.

Shirley Temple Truth Score

🟡 Provisional.

Help Each Other Help Ourselves.