The Duchess of Sussex calls Republican Senators to advocate for paid family leave
November 6, 2021, 7:30 am

The Duchess of Sussex calls Republican Senators to advocate for paid family leave

Meghan and Harry-Royal family/Facebook page

The BBC reported, Meghan Markle didn't get her royal title from America, but that hasn't stopped the Duchess of Sussex from weighing in on an ongoing US political debate.

It mentioned that Meghan this week reportedly cold-called Republican Senators, to advocate for paid family leave - now a sticking point in a major spending bill.

Her spokeswoman told the BBC on Friday, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine was not expecting the call.

According to Politico, West Virginia's Shelley Moore Capito was also called.

Ms Collins may not have appreciated the royal intervention.

Senator Collins told Politico: "Much to my surprise, she called me on my private line and she introduced herself as the Duchess of Sussex, which is kind of ironic."

Meghan and Harry-UK Royal family/Facebook page

"I was happy to talk with her. But I'm more interested in what the people of Maine are telling me about it."

Senator Capito told Politico she had received the call while in the car. Seeing a blocked number, Ms Capito thought it was Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, a fellow West Virginian.

"I'm in my car. I'm driving. It says caller ID blocked. Honestly... I thought it was Senator Manchin. His calls come in blocked. And she goes 'Senator Capito?' I said, 'Yes.' She said, 'This is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex," Ms Capito recounted.

Meghan was reportedly given the senators' phone numbers by a Democratic colleague: New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Ms Gillibrand has been a vocal supporter of adding paid family leave to a massive spending bill now up for debate in Congress.

Representatives for Senator Gillibrand, Senator Capito and the duchess did not respond to an immediate request for comment from the BBC.

Democrats on Wednesday moved to add paid family leave back into the $1.75tn (£1.1tn) social spending and climate policy bill, an addition that is surely to face intense opposition, especially from Republicans and some moderate Democrats.

The US is the only wealthy nation with no national paid parental leave programme.

Some 21% of US workers have access to paid family leave through their employers.

It is a cause apparently close to the duchess' heart. Last month, the mother of two and posted a letter to Congress on the website PaidLeaveforAll.org pushing for paid family leave in the US.

"I'm writing to you at this deeply important time - as a mom - to advocate for paid leave," she said. "The working mom or parent is facing the conflict of being present or being paid. The sacrifice of either comes at a great cost."

British royals are traditionally expected to remain politically neutral.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped down as senior royals in March 2020, have been living in California.

Source: BBC

Eight killed and hundreds injured after crowd surge at Astroworld Festival in Texas Palestine welcomes UN consensus on right of Palestinian people to self-determination

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”