We the people of the United States of America demand 24 weeks of paid maternity.

Some disappointing facts about United States maternity:
• Only 12-13% of American workers are offered paid leave through their employers.
• The United States is one of just three countries in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid time off for new mothers.
• The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows moms to take up to 12 weeks off with NO PAY
Even to get unpaid maternity leave, women must work in a firm of 50 or more employees for at least a year, with at least 1,250 working hours.
Thereby,
We the people of United States of America demand the Congress to provide to all the American Women, 24 weeks of paid maternity and guaranteed equivalent pay and title upon return for the following reasons -
• The first 24 weeks are crucial for the health of the baby and the mother
• 24 weeks for mother-child bonding is essential for mental and physical wellness of both the baby and mother.
• 24 weeks provides reasonable time for the mother to recuperate from a cesarean and deal with post-natal depression
• World Health Organization recommends mothers worldwide to exclusively breastfeed infants for the first 6 months for them to achieve optimal growth, development, and health
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast & ovarian cancer for the woman.
• The United States is the only developed country without laws providing paid maternity leave.