American families deserve meaningful paid leave policy | Opinion – The Oklahoman

Oklahoma is home to over 1.5 million families. As every parent knows, making the choice between working to provide for your family and spending time with loved ones feels impossible. Even on an average day, parents across the state are forced to miss soccer games, talent shows and other events due to their work schedules. In more extreme choices, like the birth or adoption of a child, parents should never have to make the choice between being there for key moments and putting food on the table.
Federal paid family and medical leave (PFML) policy has long been a priority for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with growing momentum around increased grants to help private businesses provide paid leave for workers during specified family events — including the birth or adoption of a child, or caring for a sick loved one. In 2023, the House Bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group was launched to “introduce a paid family leave policy that meets the needs of our economy, businesses, and American families.” The group highlights that the United States is behind other nations in terms of national paid leave policy, noting that we are among only six countries worldwide without one.
Working to combat this, the group introduced The Paid Family Leave Public-Private Partnerships Act to help make it easier for states to establish public/private paid leave programs. In 2025, the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act was introduced to further advance this goal — legislation championed in large part by Oklahoma Rep. Stephanie Bice, a working mom who understands this issue firsthand.
PFML programs have numerous benefits. On the individual household level, they save parents and caregivers from having to choose between a life-changing milestone and their job. In a broader societal context, PFML policies have shown better health outcomes for children, including decreased obesity rates and decreased infant mortality. In terms of cognitive development, PFML policies were also found to be positively correlated with reduced infant behavioral problems, higher academic test scores and improved language skills down the line.
Economically, the option for parents to continue working while caring for loved ones in necessary situations has a significant impact. Some working parents may choose to drop out of the workforce entirely if they cannot adequately care for a loved one or be present for the birth of their child. PFML policies allow these workers to continue contributing to the labor force and our country’s overall economic output without forcing them to miss key milestones. These policies also help boost small businesses, which are particularly impacted by the loss of even one or two employees.
This bipartisan momentum is clearly building. The Republican Study Committee unveiled earlier this year its Making the American Dream Affordable Again framework, which includes allocating funds to PFML. The plan specifically notes the goal of expanding “access to paid family leave, supporting young families and childhood development by investing in and supporting state-based paid family leave initiatives, consistent with the provisions included in the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act.”
Rep. Bice deserves credit for helping lay the groundwork that brought PFML to the forefront of the national policy conversation. Now, lawmakers across the aisle should build on that foundation and work to pass meaningful PFML legislation for the betterment of families across the country.
AJ Griffin, Ed.D., is a former Oklahoma state senator and current CEO of the Potts Family Foundation.
(Editor’s note: The views expressed in this column are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Oklahoman.)

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