“Today, I joined my Assembly colleagues to vote for essential family legislation to provide paid leave in order to care for a newborn child, nurse a loved one back to health or provide for a family members final days. Paid Family Leave legislation (A.3870-A) is meant to improve the lives, and protect the livelihood of working families in Rochester and our state. This measure would ensure families don’t have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a loved one.

“Paid family leave is particularly important for women since in 40 percent of households with kids under 18, the mom is the sole breadwinner. And unbelievably, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that does not provide some form of paid parental leave. This is unacceptable, and I am proud that the state Assembly can lead the way on this issue.

“In this era of extreme inequality, our efforts must be laser-focused on helping hardworking New Yorkers get ahead. When we put families’ needs first, we are increasing fairness and keeping our priorities in order. The time has come to make paid family leave the law for the families of Rochester and New York State.”