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Meghan Markle writes to Pelosi and Schumer saying paid leave should be a ‘national right’

Meghan Markle writes to Pelosi and Schumer saying paid leave should be a 'national right' 2

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Meghan Markle writes to Democrats Pelosi and Schumer saying paid leave for parents should be a ‘national right’, urges them to ‘put families above politics’ and details ‘growing up at the $4.99 Sizzlers salad bar’ because that’s ‘all she could afford’

  •  ‘I’m not an elected official, and I’m not a politician,’ Markle opened. ‘I’m writing to you at this deeply important time – as a mom – to advocate for paid leave’ 
  • Progressives have pushed for a national paid leave program offering 12 weeks to new parents 
  • Biden said informed them Tuesday saying he would have to cut that back to four weeks  


Meghan Markle, duchess of Sussex, made a rare and personal political statement on Wednesday as she wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating for paid family leave. 

‘I’m not an elected official, and I’m not a politician,’ Markle opened. ‘I’m writing to you at this deeply important time – as a mom – to advocate for paid leave.’ 

The duchess went on to detail her humble beginnings. ‘I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzler,’ she said. ‘I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky.’ 

‘I started working (at the local frozen yogurt shop) at the age of 13. I waited tables, babysat, and piecemealed jobs together to cover odds and ends. I worked all my life and saved when and where I could—but even that was a luxury—because usually it was about making ends meet and having enough to pay my rent and put gas in my car.’ 

Meghan Markle writes to Pelosi and Schumer saying paid leave should be a 'national right' 3

Meghan Markle writes to Pelosi and Schumer saying paid leave should be a 'national right' 5

‘I expect many of your constituents have their own version of that story,’ she continued, before bashing the American economic system. 

‘Many of our economic systems are past their expiration date, and as you well know, too many Americans are forced to shortchange themselves when it comes to what matters to them.’ 

The royal then recognized that she had not struggled in the same way many new parents who are not offered paid leave do. 

‘In June, my husband and I welcomed our second child. Like any parents, we were overjoyed. Like many parents, we were overwhelmed. Like fewer parents, we weren’t confronted with the harsh reality of either spending those first few critical months with our baby or going back to work.’ 

Markle, pictured above with Prince Harry and her first born Archie, made a rare political statement on Wednesday

Markle, pictured above with Prince Harry and her first born Archie, made a rare political statement on Wednesday 

She acknowledged ‘how politically charged things can — and have — become,’ but said that the issue ‘isn’t about Right or Left, it’s about right or wrong.’ 

Tucked into the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation plan is a national paid leave program that would offer 12 weeks to new parents, but as Democrats work to trim down the package to fit to a price tag Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would approve of, but Biden informed Democrats that he would have to trim that number down to four weeks. 

Progressives pushed back, with 15 Senate Democrats led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand writing to Schumer and Pelosi backing a more robust paid family and medical leave program. 

The paid leave debate opened back up this week after it was revealed that Sec. Pete Buttigieg had been on paid leave after the birth of his twin newborns since mid-August. 

Some on the right noted his absence in the midst of a supply chain crisis and rampant inflation, while the White House defended him, arguing that all Americans should be entitled to paid leave at the birth of a child.  

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