California Sen. Kamala Harris on Monday announced a plan that would guarantee workers up to six months of paid family and medical leave.
Harris announced her proposal in Iowa on the second day of a three-day campaign tour across the State.
Under Harris’ plan, paid leave would be available to all types of workers, including part-time employees, self-employed workers, and independent contractors.
The plan would also allow low- and middle-income workers earning less than $75,000 per annum to receive full wage replacement during their leave, with progressively smaller benefits for higher-wage households.
Harris also promises to push for passage of the Child Care for Working Families Act to cap the percentage income that low- and middle-income families spend on childcare.
Additionally, if elected, Harris plans to create a federal inter-agency working group tasked with reducing child poverty by half in her first term and expand food stamps and tax credits for families with children.
Harris’ paid leave plan will source funds from new payroll taxes on employers and employees in addition to other unspecified “general revenues”. The federal government’s portion would be funded through fines on corporations that fail to narrow their gender-based pay gaps.
Most of Harris’ plan will depend on approval from Congress.
