IL HR0798

United States is the only industrialized nation lacking mandatory or subsidized paid parental leave, with approximately 60 percent of new parents lacking access to such benefits.

Paid parental leave is associated with increased maternal workforce participation, greater paternal child engagement, lower infant mortality rates, higher vaccination rates, improved high school graduation rates, and higher lifetime earnings for children.

Universal 12-week federal paid parental leave would cost an estimated $85.9 billion annually according to the American Action Forum.

Proposes allowing new parents to voluntarily receive Social Security benefits after childbirth in exchange for deferring retirement benefits collection by approximately six weeks, enabling zero-cost federal paid parental leave.

Urges Congress to establish federal paid parental leave through the Social Security deferment mechanism and directs copies be sent to Illinois Congressional Delegation members and congressional leadership.