Attention PA Mamas!

We have a rare and exciting opportunity to make our voices heard at the highest level of state government. Governor Shapiro’s Advisory Commission on Women has launched the “State of the Woman” survey, and they want to know what it’s really like to live and work in the Commonwealth today.

This survey will help shape the Shapiro Administration’s future policies, so we need to make sure one issue is front and center: Paid Family and Medical Leave. 

Why This Matters for Our Wallets

Right now, the lack of a comprehensive paid family and medical leave policy is holding Pennsylvania women back. Did you know that PA women lose a staggering $1.2 billion in wages every year because they have to take unpaid or low-paid leave to care for themselves or their families? If we had a statewide paid family and medical leave program, an estimated 119,000 more women could join the workforce, adding $4.8 billion in wages back to our state’s economy!

Why This Matters for Our Health

Paid leave isn’t just about the money—it’s about our well-being. For the more than one million Pennsylvanians living with conditions like depression or heart disease, paid family and medical leave is a vital health tool. Having the time to manage health symptoms without risking a paycheck leads to fewer "poor health days" and can generate up to $1.6 billion in productivity gains for workers with depression alone.

Why This Matters For Our Families

Let’s be real, when our kid gets sick or an aging parent needs help, it’s usually moms who are expected to drop everything. But in Pennsylvania, we can’t exactly afford to just "stay home." In 74 percent of PA households with children, every parent in the home is already working, meaning there is often no "backup" caregiver available during an emergency. This is why we so desperately need a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program.

At nearly every stage of life, working people will need to take time off to recover from childbirth, bond with a new child, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to deal with a family member’s military deployment or to care for their own serious illness. Paid family and medical leave provides families with peace of mind and the ability to maintain employment. It allows workers to heal, recover and be there for their loved ones in time of need.

Two Ways to Make Our Voices Heard

1. The "State of the Woman" Listening Tour

Governor Shapiro’s team is hitting the road! This is our chance to look the Commission in the eye and tell them exactly how paid leave would change our lives. Whether you’re a pro at public speaking or just want to show up in your MomsRising swag to show support, we need you there telling the governor how important paid leave is to our families.

Find a stop near you and RSVP today:

• May 1 – Virtual (statewide)

• May 11 – Erie

• May 12 – Erie

• May 13 – Kane

• May 14 – Pittsburgh

• May 28 – Wilkes-Barre

• May 29 – Lewisburg

• May 30 – Honesdale

2. Complete the Survey with Paid Leave in Mind

The survey is open until May 30th, and it only takes a few minutes. As you fill it out, keep these tips in mind:

• Look for the "Barriers" Section: When the survey asks about barriers to economic security, career advancement or staying in the workforce, explicitly mention that the lack of paid family and medical leave makes it impossible to balance work and caregiving.

• Health and Wellness: When asked about your health priorities, highlight how paid leave would allow you to manage chronic conditions or recover from childbirth without the stress of lost income.

• Use the Comment Boxes: Don’t be afraid to use the open-ended "Other" or comment sections to tell your personal story about a time you needed paid leave but didn't have it.

• Share Sample Talking Points:

  • Here in PA, the majority of workers don’t have access to a single day of paid family and medical leave through their employers to bond with a new child or care for a seriously ill or injured family member.  

  • The state paid family and medical leave bill – the Family Care Act – has strong bipartisan support in Harrisburg.

  • At nearly every stage of life, working people will need to take time off to recover from childbirth, bond with a new child, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, to deal with a family member’s military deployment or to care for their own serious illness. Paid family and medical leave provides families with peace of mind and the ability to maintain employment. It allows workers to heal, recover and be there for their loved ones in time of need.

Governor Shapiro needs to know that for Pennsylvania women to thrive, we can't keep choosing between our families and our futures. Click here to take the "State of the Woman" survey now! Let’s show them the power of the MomsRising movement!