The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world, and the only high-income country, that does not have a national paid leave public policy. This inequitable access to paid leave forces millions of working people to make the impossible choice between deciding to care for a family member or their own health and earning a paycheck. A disproportionate number of these workers are women, people of color, essential workers in blue-collar jobs and workers in low-wage jobs.

On September 28, 2021, a coalition of institutional investors, many of whom are members of ICCR, state treasurers, elected and appointed fiduciaries and trustees of public funds and retirement savings with assets under management of approximately $1.6 trillion, called on the United States Congress to pass a comprehensive and permanent federal paid family and medical leave program by the end of 2021, via the following letter.