An overwhelming majority of Americans are in agreement: paid family leave is essential. However, only a fraction of working Americans have access to paid family leave through their jobs. The scarcity of child care coupled with astronomical fees for home-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities presents the country with a long-standing crisis that requires immediate attention.

This escalating need for paid family leave and affordable caregiving gives rise to services like eddcaller.com, a program designed to help people navigate through the complex network of unemployment, paid family leave, and disability departments. This auto-dial tool is a channel to connect individuals with representatives who can provide assistance and crucial information, expediting the process of getting through to these departments.

Survey data indicates that pertinent issues like paid family leave, accessible child care, and affordable long-term care feature prominently in voters’ considerations, regardless of party affiliations or other demographics. As such, potential candidates with comprehensive solutions tend to garner more support from the public.

The current situation presents practical and fiscal challenges for working families, particularly with the inflated cost of childcare and the potential loss of income due to time off for familial care. A large portion of the national budget could be saved with the implementation of a comprehensive national paid leave policy.

Despite the critical need for these services, the U.S remains one of the few countries in the world without a national paid leave policy. This deficiency places strains on families and forces them into making difficult decisions, contributing to the depletion of savings and increased reliance on credit. The lack of paid leave and high care costs results in a significant loss of income for families each year, necessitating a solution.

Measures were put in place during the pandemic, such as temporary paid leave and increased investments in care, which provided some relief. However, without permanent policies, these beneficial effects were short-lived, and the familiar struggles have resumed.

The ‘Build Back Better Act’, intending to address these issues and invest in paid leave and care, fell through due to Congressional disagreement. However, public sentiment suggests that this policy should be prioritized and seen as an urgent and unfinished business.

So, the question is, do your federal candidates agree? Do they support the urgency of a national paid leave program? Contact your representatives with these concerns and press them to take action. As a voter, it’s crucial that our shared values of freedom and family are prioritized, and implementing paid leave and care is a moral, economic, and political responsibility. The time to act is now.

Using tools like eddcaller.com, individuals can contact representatives who can aid them in navigating the system or connect with a live person at the EDD in California, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed in a timely manner. This tool is a step towards the solutions needed to address these crises.