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Caregivers and advocates testify that paid leave cuts would deepen hardship for families
Summary
Multiple witnesses, including caregivers and AARP representatives, described how the District’s current paid family leave enabled them to care for seriously ill relatives and warned that narrowing eligibility and shortening leave would force caregivers into economic hardship and reduce care quality.
Several witnesses presented personal testimony intended to illustrate how the District’s current paid family leave functions in practice and why advocates oppose the proposed reductions.
Phyllis Love, an AARP volunteer and longtime caregiver, recounted caring for an elderly parent and urged the committee to ‘‘preserve the current 8‑week coverage especially for caregiving leave use.’’ Laura Brown of 1st Shift Justice Project said many families rely on grandparents and siblings for caregiving and that excluding those relationships would ‘‘unfairly restrict families’ ability to engage in that strategizing.’’ Nishant Kirakati described caring for an 87‑year‑old father who required in‑home hospice and credited the eight‑week benefit with letting him provide sustained care.
Advocates also argued that the proposed continuation‑of‑service and repayment language could punish employees who leave for unavoidable reasons. Witnesses urged the committee to focus on strengthening HR practices and enforcement rather than reducing paid leave. Several speakers emphasized equity impacts, noting that women and workers of color—who shoulder caregiving responsibilities at higher rates—would be disproportionately affected.
Committee members acknowledged the personal testimony and asked agencies to reconcile anecdotal concerns with fiscal and operational analyses in follow‑up filings. The record remains open through Dec. 18, 2025 for additional written testimony.
