In preparation for this upcoming Mother's Day, Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms and caregivers, especially my wife, Tiia. Without her dedication to our family, our sons, Robert and Per, would not be the incredible young men they are today.

This will also be my first Mother’s Day without my mom, Yolanda Jean Larsen (neé Rosenbach), who passed on April 29th. She just celebrated her 88th birthday last month. Mom was the center of our lives for me and my seven brothers and sisters as kids and adults.

I also want to take a moment to reflect on the invaluable role that mothers, parents, and caregivers play in our lives and what we can do to best support them.

One of the first things that comes to mind is paid family leave and similar programs that allow families to be together.

At some point, nearly every person needs to take time away from work for a serious illness or injury, or to care for a child or family member. No one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or someone they love.

Fortunately, Washington is one of the thirteen states that have passed paid family and medical leave legislation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that only about 27% of the private sector workforce has access to paid family leave.

I am working in Congress to fix that and provide a better work-life balance for families:

• I supported the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, a bill that would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program and ensure that workers can take paid family and medical leave when they need it.
• I am a cosponsor of the Healthy Families Act, which would require employers to provide up to seven days of paid sick leave for workers to care for themselves or a family member.
• I support the Schedules that Work Act and the Strong Start Act, the first of which would provide flexible, predictable, and stable work schedules so families can plan time together. The other would give workers access to high-quality, early-learning opportunities and more affordable child care, creating stability at home.

Paid family leave is not just good for families — it also helps businesses.

Paid family leave yields higher employee retention rates and reduces turnover costs for businesses. It also promotes gender equality and diversity in the workplace by leveling the playing field for those bearing the brunt of caregiving responsibilities. When everyone has the support needed to balance work and family, they can fully participate in the workforce, driving innovation and productivity.

As we celebrate Mother's Day, we should honor the mothers and caregivers in our lives and advocate for policies like paid family leave that support them and their families.

Together, we can create a more equitable and prosperous society for all.

More soon,

Rick