Advocacy Alert: Tell Congress to Expand Paid Leave Eligibility to Cancer Survivors
Expand Eligibility for Paid Leave to Include Cancer Survivors:
We urge Congress to expand eligibility for the paid family and medical leave to include people with chronic conditions, like cancer, and working members of their households.
Because of their history of cancer and cancer treatment, cancer patients are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. Cancer survivors may be at higher risk of health complications from COVID-19 and may experience more serious infection if they acquire it.
Expanding eligibility for the paid family and medical leave program to include individuals the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers at high risk, will help ensure the health and safety of cancer patients and survivors.
NCCS was pleased to see the expansion of paid family and medical leave included in H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act. We urge the Senate to also protect cancer survivors, who may require time away from work due to the risk COVID-19 poses to their health or health of a loved one.
We urge Congress ensure people with underlying health conditions and working members of their household receive job protection and financial support that enables them to remain at home during the pandemic.
Take Action! Tell Congress to Expand Paid Leave for People With Chronic Heath Conditions
NCCS is here to help. Use the links below to call or email your Members of Congress, or contact Lindsay Houff and we are happy to help you.
- Find your Senators’ emails and phone numbers »
- Find your Representative’s emails and phone numbers »
- Find who your Members of Congress are using your zip code »
Phone Script for Calling Congressional Offices
Below is a brief script to use when calling Congressional offices to support paid leave.
My name is _________ and I am a constituent of yours from _________. I am calling to ask that you expand eligibility for the paid family and medical leave to include people with chronic conditions, like cancer, and working members of their households. This will help ensure that the health and well-being of cancer survivors like me (or my loved one), who are considered high risk for COVID-19, are protected and can remain home if their job would put their health at risk.
For more tips on how to tell your story and relate them to talking points about expanding paid leave, download this helpful worksheet.
(Right-click, save as to download PDF)
