The U.S. provides 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave to qualifying workers. However, less than 2/3 of the workforce are eligible due to strict eligibility requirements. The U.S. is part of a handful of countries without a national Paid Family Leave (PFL) policy. Fortunately for eligible California Residents, it is one of the few states that has a mandatory paid Family Leave program.

This issue hasn't been at the forefront of federal policy agenda, but it should be.

As a mother to a young daughter, I know the burden and guilt of having to return to work months afters birth, especially going through postpartum depression, separation anxiety, and mom guilt. It is about time to:

• Legislate a National Paid Family Leave (PFL) Policy

• Ensure equitable access to mothers and fathers

  - Protected pay leave

• Provisions of paid leave up to a year

  - Lower maternal and medical stress

  - Strengthen parent-child bonds