The Sweeping Family-First Policy Agenda That Won’t Make Government Bigger

A top conservative women’s organization has rolled out a sweeping family policy agenda that aims to make it easier for Americans to raise children, care for aging parents, and afford family life — all while avoiding any new federal entitlement programs.

Independent Women’s “Flourishing Families” project, shared exclusively with The Daily Wire, includes proposals on maternity leave, child care, education, elder care, housing, health care, workplace flexibility, and taxes. Each issue is addressed with a focus on choice and finds ways to help families while avoiding big government policies that conservatives recognize don’t work.

Among the report’s most notable proposals is so-called “Earned Leave,” Independent Women’s signature paid leave plan that seeks to give new mothers and caregivers more time at home without creating a new taxpayer-funded benefit.

Rather than establishing a federal paid leave entitlement, the proposal allows moms to voluntarily access a portion of their Social Security benefits they’ve already earned after a child’s birth or adoption. Parents who use the benefit would “repay” the cost by delaying their retirement benefits for several months later in life, making the proposal budget-neutral.

READ THE FULL ‘FLOURISHING FAMILIES’ REPORT HERE.

“The weeks after welcoming a new baby are one of the most important times in a family’s life,” Independent Women President Carrie Lukas told The Daily Wire. “Many parents want more time at home with their newborn but simply can’t afford to take unpaid leave. Earned Leave was designed to solve that problem without forcing taxpayers to finance a new government program.”

Lukas said parents could plan ahead by filing paperwork with the Social Security Administration before the birth of their child, allowing them to access benefits immediately after welcoming a child.

The idea has significant support. Independent Women commissioned a national poll of more than 2,000 Americans that found Earned Leave outperformed a traditional tax-funded federal paid leave program, according to Lukas. The survey found 78% of Americans believe workers should have as much control as possible over benefits they’ve earned, while 67% said paid leave proposals should remain budget-neutral and avoid imposing costs on people who never use them.

“Everyone recognizes that new parents — especially moms — need time off after the birth of a child,” she said. “The problem with government entitlement programs is they often impose costs on everyone while changing incentives for employers who are already providing benefits.”

Lukas emphasized that Earned Leave gives Americans access to benefits they’ve already earned, as opposed to state-run paid leave systems that are funded through mandatory payroll taxes. “Most people won’t use it because they won’t want to delay retirement,” she said. “But for families who truly need it, it can be a lifeline during one of the most important moments of their lives.”

“We believe it’s possible to support families without making government bigger,” Lukas added. “Earned Leave is about giving parents more flexibility and more choices using benefits they’ve already earned rather than creating an entirely new government program.”

Another notable proposal deals with elder care. Heather Madden, Independent Women’s vice president for policy initiatives, said the organization’s American Caregivers Act was specifically designed for older Americans who don’t require full-time medical care, but still need help at home.

“There are many older Americans who don’t need a nursing home or intensive medical care, but also can’t safely manage entirely on their own,” Madden told The Daily Wire. “They may simply need someone to drive them to appointments, prepare meals, help around the house, or provide companionship.”

The proposal would allow qualified organizations to recruit, screen, train, and place college students with seniors who need non-medical assistance. Students would receive housing and a stipend in exchange for helping with daily tasks, which would in turn give families a lower-cost alternative before more intense care becomes necessary.

“Instead of forcing families to choose between doing everything themselves or moving a loved one into a nursing home before it’s truly necessary, the American Caregivers Act gives them another option,” Madden said.

The proposal wouldn’t just benefit seniors. “It would also provide much-needed relief for family caregivers who are balancing careers, raising children, and caring for aging parents,” Madden explained. “Public policy should make it easier for families to care for one another, not leave them with impossible choices.”

Madden also noted the program could help lower the cost of college for participating students, comparing the initiative to the State Department’s au pair program.

The report also makes school choice and parental rights a focus, acknowledging that parents, not government officials, know what’s best for their children.

For example, Independent Women calls for expanding Education Savings Accounts, charter schools, and other school choice options. The group also proposes strengthening parental rights laws that guarantee curriculum transparency, access to student records, and parental consent on issues that relate to gender and sexuality.

Education Savings Accounts would allow families to use public education dollars for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, homeschooling materials, and other learning services. The concept has already proven popular in states that have adopted similar programs. Florida, for example, enacted an Education Savings Account-style scholarship program that has been widely praised by participating families and supporters as a major expansion of school choice.

The report also outlines changes for increasing housing affordability by reducing regulations, strengthening health care price transparency, protecting flexible work arrangements, and reforming tax and welfare policies to reward work while making it easier for Americans to start and sustain families.