Paid Leave

No One Should Be Punished for Caring

When our kids were little, Vanessa and I made a decision—we’d figure out a way for her to stay home with them. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t without sacrifice. But we believed it mattered.

Vanessa started a small business selling on eBay. Eventually, she moved it to Etsy. She built something flexible so she could be home with our kids while also helping make ends meet.

We made it work. But here’s the truth: not everyone can do what we did. And they shouldn’t have to. No one should be punished for needing time to care—for a new baby, a sick loved one, or even themselves.

I’m running for Congress because I believe in paid family and medical leave for every working person.

Right now, millions of Americans have to choose between their paycheck and their family. They have to risk their job to take care of a newborn. Or skip chemo treatments because they can’t afford the time off. Or go to work while grieving or recovering—because the bills don’t stop.

That’s not right. That’s not healthy. And that’s not how we build strong families or communities.

Here’s what I believe:

• Every worker should have access to paid leave—to care for a new child, a sick relative, or their own health.

• Paid leave should be universal, not based on where you work or how much you earn.

• And we can design a program that’s affordable and sustainable—for families and small businesses alike.

The U.S. is one of the only developed countries that doesn’t guarantee paid family leave. That’s not something to be proud of. It’s something to fix.

Because when people have time to care, families grow stronger. Health outcomes improve. Babies and parents bond. Loved ones heal better. And people come back to work more focused, more loyal, and more whole.

As a pastor, I’ve walked with families through births, deaths, recoveries, and breakdowns. I’ve seen how thin the margin is—how one illness or one emergency can shake a whole household. Paid leave is more than a policy. It’s a support system. It’s a statement of what we value.

We say we’re pro-family. But what does that mean if we don’t support families when they need it most?

Vanessa and I were lucky. We had just enough flexibility, just enough support, just enough creativity to make it work. But it shouldn’t take luck to care for your kids. Or your parents. Or yourself.

It should be a right.

So let’s stop treating care as a luxury. Let’s treat it as the essential part of life that it is. And let’s build a country where no one has to choose between love and a paycheck.

Because the time we take to care for each other? That’s what makes us human. That’s what makes us strong.