Providing for Consideration of H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year and Providing for Consideration of Motions to Suspend the Rules

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. HOULAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the NDAA and the rule and the bipartisan work that went into it.

Part of the reason I separated from the Air Force was from a lack of sufficient childcare options.

People across our country are often forced to decide between building their careers and building their families, and, frankly, this is bad for our economy and for our country.

We need to be working to ensure that we attract and retain the best possible talent for any and every job. Eighty-two percent of Americans believe our country should be providing this, and only 16 percent of us have it. And this should start at the top, at the Federal level.

I cannot fathom a world where any person, regardless of party, would hesitate to understand the importance of having the best and brightest people working in our government.

Our legislation addresses this core issue. No one should have to choose between their family and career. The government should be leading by example, and today, this legislation allows us to effectively send a successful message to all workers: paid family leave is an investment in all of our families.

For me, it is inspiring, and it is an inspiring moment when we see legislation being born from unlikely bedfellows: a concern for securing our supply chain of rare earths help fund the need for us to provide paid family leave to all Federal workers. This is the type of legislation my community in Pennsylvania expects from Congress, and I am very proud to introduce it today.

Madam Speaker, I urge the support of the NDAA. I am very, very grateful for the support and work of Congresswoman Maloney in leading me to this and leading us to this. Parliamentary Inquiry

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source