U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has joined fellow senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in introducing new legislation aimed at providing parental leave and compensation for parents following a miscarriage or stillbirth. The proposed bill, named the Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving Mothers and Fathers Act (HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act), seeks to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by recognizing the spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave.
The legislation also proposes establishing a tax credit for women who experience the loss of a child in the womb. “It has taken policymakers too long to recognize that parents should be allowed time to heal following a miscarriage or stillbirth,” stated Hyde-Smith. She emphasized the need for families to have time after such losses, describing them as “devastating and heartbreaking.”
Senator Cotton added, “This bill will make sure families receive the resources they need to help recover from the unexpected loss of a child.” He noted that while no financial compensation can replace such a loss, it is crucial for parents to have time to begin healing.
The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act is supported by organizations including SBA Pro-Life America and the National Right to Life Committee. The bill includes provisions for a refundable tax credit for mothers or couples who suffer a stillbirth. This initiative is inspired by Arkansas state legislation known as “Paisley’s Law,” named after a lawmaker’s late granddaughter.
