Duchess Meghan Markle calls Republican senators to urge them on paid family leave

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry, has been on a whirlwind royal tour to Australia. But her latest call is not to discuss the Royal Family’s plans for their new baby Archie. According to People magazine, Meghan called Republican senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida urging them on paid family leave legislation. The duchess reportedly told both men that she was “deeply disappointed” by their failure to support H.R. 8069 Paid Family Leave Act of 2018 which guarantees 12 weeks unpaid leave for parents who have just had a child or adopted one from foster care or within 72 hours after being notified about an emergency involving a close family member (elderly parent). The legislation was voted down by Republicans on Wednesday with a vote of 51 to 47.

In her conversation with Senator Rubio and Senator Graham, The Duchess learned about the positive impact that paid family leave has in several states, a Royal Family spokesman said in a statement. The Duchess appeared deeply moved when speaking about how women have been affected by the lack of paid leave and she is hopeful that it can be changed.

The Paid Family Leave Act would have allowed new parents and people with seriously ill family members to receive 12 weeks of partial income at 66 percent of their average monthly earnings, which the government has defined as $769 a week for 2019. The bill did not include any direct funding mechanism, so the costs would have been covered by the unemployment insurance program financed with payroll taxes collected from employees.

However, Republicans argued that the bill would put at risk other programs like Social Security and Medicare. Democrats also argued that it’s unfair for people to pay into Social Security and not receive any benefits.

Markle is an American actress who married Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in May 2018. She did not become a British citizen, but she took the title Duchess of Sussex when her husband was granted a peerage by Queen Elizabeth II.

The Duchess was also given the title Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Henry. She became the sixth American-born woman to marry into the British royal family.

Markle and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex currently reside at Kensington Palace in London with their three dogs Archie, Leo and Bogart. They reportedly want to move back to the United Kingdom, but will live in a two bedroom house as it is expected that they will have a bigger place to move into soon after their unborn baby arrives.

In her conversation with Senator Rubio and Senator Graham, The Duchess learned about the positive impact that paid family leave has in several states, a Royal Family spokesman said in a statement. The Duchess appeared deeply moved when speaking about how women have been affected by the lack of paid leave and she is hopeful that it can be changed.

The Paid Family Leave Act would have allowed new parents and people with seriously ill family members to receive 12 weeks of partial income at 66 percent of their average monthly earnings, which the government has defined as $769 a week for 2019. The bill did not include any direct funding mechanism, so the costs would have been covered by the unemployment insurance program financed with payroll taxes collected from employees.