of taking 12 weeks of unpaid leave would be reduced by more than 81 percent. (24) Without a national paid leave policy, the United States is missing out on substantial economic activity, which has been estimated at approximately $500,000,000,000 by the Department of Labor, as women in particular are held back from participating in the workforce in equal shares. (25) A national paid family and medical leave program has the support of more than eight in ten voters across demographic and party lines. (b) Purpose It is the purpose of this Act— (1) to help working people, including single working parents and workers in dual-earner families, afford to take time away from work to provide care for a family member