In the same week that a key legislative committee endorsed a bill that would mandate paid sick leave in Connecticut, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro is poised to file similar legislation in Congress.
The federal bill stipulates that workers can earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work (capped at 56 hours, or 7 work days) to stay home if they are sick, care for a sick family member, or seek medical attention.
Currently, no state requires paid sick leave; if the Connecticut measure is approved by the House and Senate, it would be the first such mandate in the nation.
DeLauro recently attended a rally in Connecticut in support of paid sick leave. The 3rd District Democrat has long championed the cause on the federal level--the U.S. Senate has held two hearings on the issue, while the U.S. House of Representatives has held one. The bill could be reintroduced in Congress as early as this week, though it faces a tough sell in the GOP-controlled House.