U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on July 30 released A Bipartisan Solution to Help Working Families — also known as the Cassidy-Sinema plan — that proposes a new paid leave strategy for Americans.
Sen. Cassidy put the plan together with U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to propose “a pragmatic approach to help working families now by funding paid parental leave or infant care expenses through advancing the Child Tax Credit (CTC),” according to the plan.
“There is no bigger kitchen table issue than a mother and a father being able to care for their newborn,” Sen. Cassidy said on Tuesday. “In many cases, the first year of life is the most expensive for a family.”
Congress recently doubled the CTC to up to $2,000 per year. The Cassidy-Sinema plan would allow the parents of a newborn or recently adopted child under the age of six to bring forward their child tax credits to receive $5,000 immediately and then receive a $1,500 CTC for the following 10 years.
The $5,000 could be used to replace income while taking leave from work or to pay for childcare if parents decide to stay at work, according to the plan.
For families who do not qualify for the full, refundable CTC, they would be able to similarly bring forward their CTC benefit to receive the equivalent of 12 weeks wage replacement and then receive their adjusted CTC benefit over the next 15 years.
The Cassidy-Sinema plan also targets funds and eases financial strains “to provide a longer bonding period for the family,” said Sen. Cassidy, adding that, “as a doctor, I know that if a mom and dad are able to have a deeper connection with their child at birth, it’s better for the health of the baby and the mother.”
Sen. Cassidy also pointed out that the plan doesn’t raise taxes, nor impact Social Security.
“There are no mandates on either the family or the employer,” he added. “This is a common ground solution that can pass Congress and become law.”