My name is Chrischa Ives, and I'm the incredibly proud mother of my daughter, Gabrielle Aldea, who was born with Hardikar Syndrome. Hardikar is so rare that very few doctors even know of its existence, but, in short, it's a syndrome that affects the entire midline of a person's body. Gabrielle had, among other things, malrotation of the intestines, a bladder the size of a thimble which necessitated the creation and care of a neobladder, hydronephrosis, liver issues so severe that she received a liver transplant at age 2, coarctation of the aorta, a bilateral cleft lip and palate, and an aneurysm in the base of her brain. After a courageous battle, Gabby passed away in 2020 at the age of 21. Parenting, in general, requires providing another human an extreme amount of time and care. Parenting a medically-fragile child means offering even more of those things while learning to handle the unexpected. When you're a single parent of a medically-fragile child, the caregiver for another adult, or trying to deal with a medical condition of your own, life gets unbelievably complicated. When Gabrielle was born, she was so sick that I was unable to return to work. When I felt able to return to work as Gabby’s condition stabilized I found that despite my skills and qualifications, I was denied employment when I told potential workplaces about my daughter and her medical needs. There were times when my schedule could be consistent, but there were also times I'd need to be off to take her to appointments or to stay with her when she was sick. Despite my qualifications and a proven commitment to go above and beyond what was asked of me from a job, no employer was willing or able to hire me because of the time off I'd need. If I had had guaranteed access to paid family and medical leave, employers would have had certainty of me as an employee, and I would have had the ability to earn a living while taking care of my daughter. My story is unfortunately not unique, too many families across the country and the Commonwealth have experienced similar struggles. The current system is pushing caregivers, particularly women, out of the workforce. Paid leave for all means care for all. It means caring for each other in our times of need. And it means the world to individuals and families who go without it every day in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It's time to do better. I am calling on members of the General Assembly to support HB 1270 so no other parent has to make the sacrifices I made.

Chairman, members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of House Bill 1207. I serve as Virginia Director for CASA, an immigrant rights organization working with Virginia's construction workers, restaurant employees, home health aides, and service workers. I witness daily the impossible choices families face without paid leave. Last year, Maria, a Northern Virginia housekeeper, faced a devastating choice when her mother suffered a stroke: care for her mother or keep working to pay rent. She chose her mother and lost her job within a week. By the time her mother stabilized, Maria was three months behind on rent and faced eviction. This is not isolated—this is reality for hundreds of thousands of Virginia families. Only 27% of workers in the lowest wage quartile have access to paid family leave, compared to 58% in the highest quartile. The families who can least afford to lose income have no safety net. For immigrant families, language barriers, immigration status concerns, and cultural caregiving expectations make this crisis even more severe. Without paid leave, construction workers return to physically demanding jobs before injuries heal, risking permanent disability. Parents managing chronic conditions delay medical care, leading to complications and higher healthcare costs. Domestic violence survivors cannot afford to miss work to seek safety. Thousands of parents return to work days after childbirth because they cannot afford to stay home longer. HB1207 addresses these crises while supporting employers. The fair contribution structure includes special provisions for small businesses. Studies show paid leave programs improve employee retention while reducing costly turnover. Twelve states and DC have enacted these programs successfully—they work. For working families, paid leave means a new mother can bond with her baby without fearing eviction. A son can care for his dying father without losing his job. A survivor can seek safety without choosing between protection and poverty. This is dignity. This is economic security. I urge this Committee to advance HB1207 and give all Virginia families the paid leave they need and deserve. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully submitted, Luis Aguilar Virginia Director, CASA

This written testimony is hereby submitted in favor/support of HB1207 to implement a paid family medical leave program in the Commonwealth.

Voices for Virginia strongly supports the establishment of a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program in the Commonwealth. Too many Virginians are forced to choose between caring for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or their own health and maintaining a paycheck—an impossible choice that disproportionately harms women, low-wage workers, and caregivers. Paid family and medical leave improves health outcomes, strengthens workforce participation, and benefits employers by reducing turnover and increasing retention. A statewide program would promote economic stability, support small businesses through a shared system, and ensure workers can meet family and medical needs without financial hardship. Voices for Virginia urges policymakers to advance a strong, equitable paid family and medical leave program that supports workers, families, and Virginia’s economy.

Voices for Virginia strongly supports the establishment of a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program in the Commonwealth. Too many Virginians are forced to choose between caring for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or their own health and maintaining a paycheck—an impossible choice that disproportionately harms women, low-wage workers, and caregivers. Paid family and medical leave improves health outcomes, strengthens workforce participation, and benefits employers by reducing turnover and increasing retention. A statewide program would promote economic stability, support small businesses through a shared system, and ensure workers can meet family and medical needs without financial hardship. Voices for Virginia urges policymakers to advance a strong, equitable paid family and medical leave program that supports workers, families, and Virginia’s economy.

The National Partnership for Women & Families appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony in support of HB 1207. This bill would help keep families from deciding between their paycheck or caring for themselves and their loved ones. We respectfully urge a favorable report on the bill.

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