Cassidy Releases Proposal For Paid Leave For New Parents

Senator Bill Cassidy releases a paid leave proposal for new parents.  Cassidy says with the plan, new parents would be allowed to take $5,000 advance on the child tax credit, reducing the $2,000 annual benefit to $1,500 for ten years after the birth or adoption of a child.

“So a little bit of the next year and a little bit of the next year comes forward into the year of birth, because we know the first year of life is the most expensive year of life, so let’s help the family with that great expense,” said Cassidy.

It’s a bipartisan effort as the Republican is working alongside Arizona Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema.  Cassidy says sometimes a new child may create a situation where a mother must quit working and survive on public assistance.

“That’s not good.  With this, we give the mother the support, the father the support so that one of them can stay home or hire daycare so they can return to work,” said Cassidy.

Cassidy says the proposal will also improve the relationship between the parents and the child.

“I know that if a mom is able to stay home, perhaps breastfeed, then both the baby is better, the mom is better, and bonding is more,” said Cassidy.