Paid family leave to be added back to Build Back Better after backlash

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy House speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats’ plan for paid family leave will be added back into President Biden’s signature “Build Back Better” legislation after its removal sparked a backlash from progressive Democrats. “As we are reviewing priorities and at the urging of many Members of the Caucus, I have asked the Ways and Means Committee for its legislation for Paid Family and Medical Leave to be included in this morning’s hearing.” Passing legislation to establish a paid family leave benefit would fulfil a major campaign promise made by Mr Biden and his allies. “I think it’s a strong proposal having a permanent universal paid leave plan, even at four weeks, is extremely strong and is great base at which to build over many years and I think it’s a statement that the speaker and the House believe it’s essential for the economy to recover,” she said. The possibility that Democrats would pass Build Back Better without paid leave also drew the attention of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who in an open letter last month urged senators to support paid leave as a way of healing “long-existing fault lines in our communities” exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.