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1/9/2025
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State leaders, advocates celebrate expansion of paid family leave and child care eligibility
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 STATE HOUSE — Leaders from the General Assembly, McKee administration, advocates and families with young children gathered this morning at the Federal Hill House Early Learning Center in Providence to celebrate the Jan. 1, 2025, implementation of two important programs that support Rhode Island young children and working families:
1. The expansion of Rhode Island’s Temporary Caregivers Insurance program to seven weeks of paid family leave.
2. The expansion of eligibility for Rhode Island’s Child Care Assistance Program to families earning 261% of the federal poverty level, the highest level in state history.
“TCI expansion is an investment in our workforce and our future,” said Senate Majority Leader Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence). “It will pay off for generations to come, because a society where people have the time to bond with their babies is simply healthier in every sense of the word. It also provides the invaluable resource of time at pivotal points in the lives of Rhode Islanders, because everyone should have the ability to care for a loved one in a time of need. I was incredibly proud to sponsor paid family leave expansion, and I am grateful to all the partners who worked hard to secure victories for Rhode Island’s working families, including expanded eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program. I look forward to our continued work together in 2025 and beyond.”
“This is a significant help to families who face the realities of inflation and a housing crisis,” said Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence). “These things don’t happen magically — and they don’t happen quickly. It takes a lot of hard work from a lot of people, especially during years like this one, where we all have to tighten our belts.”
“I know from my own experience as a father of a daughter born prematurely, that the gift of time that TCI provides is priceless for parents,” said Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls). “No one should have to make the choice of whether to go back to work or stay with their newborn and risk losing their income.”
Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) also attended the event.
“This year, Rhode Island TCI claimants will be able to spend an additional week caring for their loved ones or bonding with a child. This is a significant step forward in supporting our state’s hardworking families,” said Matthew Weldon, director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training. “We are proud to play a role in ensuring these benefits reach working Rhode Islanders efficiently, empowering families to care for their loved ones without sacrificing their financial security.”
“As an expecting mom, I know I will need time to heal from birth and most importantly, time to bond with my baby,” said Dr. Mariel Phillip of Providence. “The fact that Rhode Island has moved to seven weeks of paid leave is a huge win for families like mine who need time off to take care of a new baby, buy diapers and do all the things needed to welcome a beautiful baby into this world. Having that time off, knowing it will not impact my job, is a huge relief. However, it will be a challenge for our family to survive on just 60% of wages provided during the paid leave. Child care affordability is also going to be a challenge for my family, like it is for almost every family in Rhode Island. I want to thank the Rhode Island General Assembly for expanding paid family leave and child care assistance in the 2024 legislative session. In 2025, I hope they will work to increase the wage replacement levels for the Rhode Island paid family leave program, expand paid family leave to 12 weeks like our neighbors in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and help more families access affordable, quality child care for their babies and young children.”
“Child care remains one of the top issues keeping workers out of the economy,” said RI Department of Human Services Director Kimberly Merolla-Brito. “The RI Department of Human Services is committed to ensuring families have what they need to be successful, and child care helps build that foundation.”
“We know that many Rhode Island families struggle to afford child care and to take adequate time off to bond with a new baby or care for a sick loved one,” said Leanne Barrett of Rhode Island Kids Count and the RIght from the Start campaign. “That is why we deeply appreciate that the General Assembly and Governor McKee listened to the parents of young children and adopted these two important reforms. We can do even better, and that is why we will be advocating at the State House this session for increased access to affordable, high quality child care and to have Rhode Island’s paid family leave match our neighboring states with up to 12 weeks of leave and a higher wage replacement rate. These are policy investments that make life easier and healthier for our children and families, while also strengthening Rhode Island’s economy.”
IN PHOTO: Sen. Lammis J. Vargas, first from left, Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo, third from left, Majority Leader Valarie J. Lawson, fourth from left, and Rep. Grace Diaz, fifth from left.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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