Ensuring the well-being of women and families is a cornerstone of a healthy society. Paid maternity leave, comprehensive women's health care, and the respect for women's reproductive choices are essential components of this support system:

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• Paid Maternity Leave: The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave — and only for entities with 50 or more employees. This is unacceptable. If we want to support women and families, paid leave must be available to every family. Infant bonding, breast feeding, and a mothers recovery from childbirth demand at least three or four months of paid leave. The federal government must fund this and all Americans must support motherhood and infants.

 

• Women's Health Issues: The 9th District is a maternity care desert. Medicaid rolls are being reduced and birth control costs are high. Further, preventative care that supports healthy families is essential. We need decentralized, competent, women's healthcare.

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• Women's Choice: Women's choices must be respected. This is a state issue and Virginia has voted to respect women's reproductive choices.