Washington, D.C. (December 12, 2019) – UsAgainstAlzheimer’s issued the following statement on the expanded paid family leave provisions for parents in the House-Senate agreement on National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation, which would give federal employees 12 weeks of paid parental family leave starting next October, was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

 “We applaud Congress for taking this important step in expanding paid family and medical leave for federal employees. However, their work cannot stop here as family caregivers have been left behind. Too many will continue to struggle to balance care and work. 

"Congress must take action in 2020 to expand paid family and medical leave to help meet the needs of the millions of caregivers providing care for a loved one living with a chronic disease like Alzheimer’s, the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. 

"A national poll of caregivers by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s found that access to paid medical and family leave has a significant positive impact for employed adult caregivers of loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.

"Millions of patients and families touched by Alzheimer’s are waiting for a national paid family and medical leave policy."

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