Pelosi Statement on New York State Paid Family Leave & Minimum Wage Increase

April 4, 2016

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation instituting 12 weeks of paid family leave and increasing the minimum wage throughout New York:

"Today, New York has made strong progress on behalf of hard-working families. When we raise the minimum wage and give workers the flexibility of paid family leave, we strengthen communities, empower families and grow our economy. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York is charting a course for a fairer, stronger economy for everyone.

"New York's leadership for working people shines a stark light on the inaction of the Republican Congress. It is long past time to enact paid family leave for all Americans and lift the federal minimum wage to deliver a long-overdue pay raise to hard-working families all across America.

"Paid family leave and raising the minimum wage are vital to unleashing the full power of women and working families in our country – and they are key pillars of House Democrats' ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds' economic agenda. Republicans should join Democrats to grow the paychecks of working people, give greater flexibility to hard-working families, and build an economy that works for all Americans."