Tuesday, July 23, 2019
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
SVC 212-10, Capitol Visitor Center
Washington, DC

American conservatism has long been defined by its reluctance to expand federal government power. Yet Donald Trump became president with the backing of most conservative voters with a policy agenda that was at best agnostic on this question and in many respects favored a significant expansion of federal power. One important part of that agenda was the creation of a federally-financed family leave policy.

On July 23, 2019, EPPC convened conservative advocates and opponents of paid family leave, and policymakers working on this issue, for a conversation about the idea’s philosophical and practical implications. This half-day event, consisting of two panels, asked whether conservative principles will support such an idea and, if so, what alternatives might be pursued to create an effective, yet limited, program.

Opening remarks
Henry Olsen
Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Debate: Conservatism and PFL Compatible?
Rachel Greszler
Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
Kristin Shapiro
Senior Fellow, Independent Women’s Forum
Aparna Mathur
Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Veronique de Rugy
Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center

PFL Plan Tradeoffs: Drafting A Workable Blueprint
Caleb Orr
Policy Advisor, office of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio
Jena McNeill
Legislative Director, office of U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst
Christy Woodruff
Legislative Director, office of U.S. Sen. Mike Lee