More Paid Leave for More Americans Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3089
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-05T09:06:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "More Paid Leave for More Americans Act" (H.R. 3089) aims to increase access to paid family leave for American workers by providing federal grants to states that establish qualifying paid family leave programs. It promotes public-private partnerships at the state level and creates a national network to coordinate and standardize paid leave programs across states, reducing administrative burdens and improving efficiency for workers, employers, and states.
Key Provisions
- State Grant Program (Title I):
- The Secretary of Labor awards competitive grants to states that have enacted laws for paid family leave programs meeting minimum standards.
- Minimum program requirements include:
- 6 weeks of paid leave for eligible employees to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.
- Weekly benefits calculated as a percentage of an employee's average weekly earnings (67% for low-income workers, scaling down to 50% for higher earners), capped at 150% of the state's average weekly wage.
- Eligibility limited to employees with at least 12 months and 1,250 hours of service with their employer (similar to standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act).
- Funding through premiums or other mechanisms paid by employees, employers, or both.
- Requirement for a public-private partnership (e.g., with insurance companies) to administer benefits, with flexibility for employers to self-administer if benefits meet or exceed state standards.
- Grants (minimum $1.5 million, maximum $7 million) can fund startup costs, benefit payments, software, outreach, research, and reducing employer burdens.
- Priority for states using off-the-shelf software, serving low-income populations, and planning sustainable financing without long-term federal reliance.
- States must report usage annually, and the Department of Labor's Inspector General conducts audits for compliance and to prevent waste or fraud.
- Interstate Paid Leave Action Network (I-PLAN) (Title II):
- Establishes I-PLAN as a voluntary network of state representatives (state "focals") to develop and update an interstate agreement standardizing paid family and medical leave policies and administration across participating states.
- Standards cover definitions (e.g., benefit periods, eligibility), administrative processes (e.g., claims, notices, data sharing), and coordination for workers with jobs in multiple states.
- A grant to a national intermediary organization supports I-PLAN activities, including meetings, reports comparing state programs, stakeholder outreach, and developing interoperable technology for claims processing and data trends (e.g., claim durations, benefit amounts).
- Separate grants to participating states: "conforming grants" ($1.5–$8 million) for joining I-PLAN in good faith, and "implementation grants" ($1.5–$8 million) for adopting the agreement, usable for administrative costs and small business assistance.
- I-PLAN meets at least three times yearly and produces a public roadmap with success metrics.
- Funding and Definitions:
- Authorizes $39.8 million (FY 2026), $79.6 million (FY 2027), and $145.9 million (FY 2028) for Title I grants.
- Authorizes up to $8.8 million annually (FY 2026–2028) for the national intermediary and $35.3 million each for conforming and implementation grants.
- Financed partly by rescinding funds from unrelated programs (e.g., reducing tariff enforcement funding and terminating certain Department of Defense contracts).
- Defines key terms like "eligible employee," "covered partnership," and "qualifying reason" (e.g., birth, adoption, or other family/medical needs under the Family and Medical Leave Act).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, which provides unpaid leave, by incentivizing states to offer paid leave without creating a federal mandate.
- Introduces new federal grant programs to support state-level paid leave, including interstate coordination via I-PLAN, which has no direct precedent.
- Rescinds specific appropriations (e.g., $10 million from tariff enforcement under the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and funds for Department of Defense golf courses) to offset costs, altering prior funding allocations.
- Allows states flexibility to exceed minimum requirements (e.g., more weeks or reasons for leave) but prohibits considering such extras in grant prioritization.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Labor gains responsibilities for administering grants, oversight, reporting to Congress, and supporting I-PLAN, potentially increasing workload but fostering state-federal collaboration. Audits and technology systems could improve program integrity and data sharing.
- On Citizens: Working parents and families, especially low-income ones, gain better access to paid leave for childbirth or adoption, supporting work-life balance and financial stability. Interstate workers benefit from streamlined claims across states, reducing complexity for multi-state employment.
- On Employers: Reduces administrative burdens through standardization and self-administration options; small businesses receive assistance for costs. However, may require payroll adjustments for contributions.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though standardized U.S. programs could indirectly enhance workforce competitiveness globally by improving family support policies.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and State Agencies: Primary recipients of grants; must enact and administer programs, participate in I-PLAN, and report data.
- Workers and Employees: Eligible for paid benefits, particularly those in low-wage or multi-state jobs; benefits low-income and new parents most directly.
- Employers and Businesses: Required to contribute to funding and comply with standards; gain from reduced burdens and equivalency options for private plans.
- Families and Caregivers: Improved support for bonding time with newborns or adoptees.
- Private Entities (e.g., Insurers, Tech Providers): Partner in administration; national intermediary (a nonprofit workforce organization) facilitates coordination.
- Federal Government (Department of Labor): Oversees grants, audits, and I-PLAN support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on federal spending power to incentivize state action (a common approach under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution), avoiding direct mandates that could face Tenth Amendment challenges. Ensures compliance with privacy laws in data sharing and aligns with FLSA and FMLA standards for employee protections.
- Constitutional: Promotes cooperative federalism by empowering states while providing federal funds, potentially reducing litigation over unfunded mandates. No apparent conflicts with equal protection or due process, as benefits are needs-based and inclusive of territories like Puerto Rico.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Rep. Bice with cosponsors from both parties) signals broad appeal for family support without a national program, which has been politically divisive. Could encourage more states to adopt paid leave (currently only a few have it), influencing future labor policy debates, but funding rescissions from defense-related areas may spark controversy over priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- More Paid Leave for More Americans Act — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (34 pages)