Gillibrand says "this is the only moment" to pass paid family leave

Washington — Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said Sunday that "now is the time" for Democrats to implement a national paid leave program for workers, as she seeks to sway fellow Democratic Senator Joe Manchin to back including the policy in President Biden's social spending and climate change package.

"If your main concern is strengthening social safety nets like Social Security, paid leave is one of the solutions," Gillibrand said in an interview with "Face the Nation." "I'm hopeful that if I can use the next three weeks to really impress upon Senator Manchin that some things can only be done with Democrats only, that now is the only time to do that, perhaps in the next decade."