The Maine Legislature will soon vote on L.D. 1964, which would create a paid family and medical leave program for Maine. I am writing to support this important policy.

Previous to my current job, during the pandemic, I was a case manager and a program manager at one of the largest ethnic-based organizations in the Lewiston/Auburn area. I worked with some of the most vulnerable populations, essential workers who lived paycheck to paycheck.

Some community members were severely impacted by COVID-19 and were forced to go back to work without fully recovering. Some of them lost their jobs, and others lived with the stress of being sick and fearing to lose their jobs without any income to survive.

No one deserves to be under the stress of financial burden while taking care of their health or the health of their loved ones. L.D. 1964 would allow workers to have up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

People are working two or three jobs and still having difficulties maintaining financial stability. I believe that if this bill passes, it will help workers who do not have this opportunity yet to be more secure.

I urge our legislators to vote for this bill, which will give Maine workers the freedom to take care of their health and take care of their loved ones when needed.

Hamda Ahmed, Lewiston