Bipartisan House Working Group Unveils Paid-Leave Legislative Package

On April 30, the bipartisan House Paid Family Leave Working Group released a series of bills aimed at expanding access to paid leave for U.S. workers. Co-chaired by Reps. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., and Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., the group — containing an equal number of Republicans and Democrats — introduced the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, which was developed over two years of collaboration.

Members of the working group include Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D., R-Iowa; Haley Stevens, D-Mich.; Julia Letlow, R-La.; Don Beyer, D-Va.; Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa; and Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif. In December 2024, when the working group released the initial discussion drafts, Emily M. Dickens, J.D., SHRM’s head of government affairs and chief of staff, praised the effort and “the commitment to addressing the challenges created by the patchwork of state and local regulations.” SHRM also submitted feedback, with recommendations emphasizing the need for:

• A national paid-leave standard.
• Flexibility to accommodate diverse caregiving needs.
• Strengthened public-private partnerships.

The newly released bills reflect years of bipartisan dedication. SHRM remains committed to working with these policymakers — and their Senate counterparts — to advance policies that create a better world of work.