Murray Amendment to Expand Access to Paid Sick Days Passes Senate with Strong Bipartisan Support

Murray’s amendment passes Senate on a bipartisan vote of 61-39 

Murray: “Today’s vote was an important step forward for families in need of paid sick days and I’m going to fight to get this done.”

With 61 Senators supporting amendment expanding paid sick leave, Murray will be fighting for her bill to get a vote on Senate floor

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced an amendment to the Senate FY16 Budget to expand access to paid sick days. The amendment, similar to the Healthy Families Act Murray introduced earlier this year, would allow workers to earn up to seven paid sick days yearly. The amendment passed the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote of 61-39.

“I am thrilled that the Senate showed strong support today for expanding access to paid sick days and giving more families some much-needed economic stability,” Senator Murray said following the vote. “No worker should have to sacrifice a day’s pay, or their job altogether, just to take care of themselves or their sick child. Today’s vote was an important step forward for families in need of paid sick days and I’m going to fight to get this done.”

Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks prior to the vote, as prepared:

“Thank you, Mr. President.

“I’m offering an amendment today that would expand access to paid sick days and would give more families some much-needed economic stability.

“Working families shouldn’t have to sacrifice a day’s pay – or sacrifice their job altogether – just to take care of themselves or their sick child. 

“But today, 43 million of our nation’s workers don’t have access to paid sick days. 

“This amendment would allow workers to earn up to seven paid sick days over the course of a year.

“This would not only help families – it is also good for business.

“Paid sick days boost productivity. And in cities and states that already have paid sick leave laws, many employers say the policy hasn’t affected their revenue.  

“Allowing workers to earn paid sick days would take us a step closer to an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthiest few. 

“To expand economic security to more families, I urge my colleagues to approve this amendment.”