Press Release: Vargas joins workers, families, and advocates to launch Paid Sick Leave campaign 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Contact: Meg Mandy, Campaign Manager
meg@vargasfornebraska.com

Vargas joins workers, families, and advocates to launch Paid Sick Leave campaign

Omaha, Neb. — Today, Senator Tony Vargas joined a room full of workers, families, and advocates as they launched a ballot initiative for paid sick leave for Nebraskans:

“For years, I’ve fought for all workers to have access to paid sick and safe leave and paid family leave. As a working dad, I know how important it is to be able to care for your children when they are sick. Workers shouldn’t have to worry that caring for their family or themselves will cost them their jobs or income.”

In 2021, Senator Vargas introduced LB258, the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act. He has also supported bills in the legislature over the years to establish paid family leave.

About Tony

Tony Vargas has served Nebraskans as an elected official for nearly a decade. Tony learned the values of community, hard work, and perseverance from his parents, who, coming from humble beginnings, sacrificed everything to provide their children with an opportunity for a brighter future. No matter how busy the family was, they had dinner together every night, where his parents encouraged Tony to “stay grounded, but reach for the stars.”

Tony devoted his career to public service and improving opportunities for all Nebraskans. He has served our community since 2013, first as a member of the Omaha Public Schools Board and then as a member of the Nebraska Legislature. As a senator, Tony has developed a reputation for civility and working with anyone to get things done for Nebraska workers and small businesses.

He has successfully passed legislation to strengthen our public schools, improve access to health care, encourage technology and innovation, and improve consumer protections.

Tony began his career as a public-school teacher, receiving “Most Outstanding Teacher” and “Teacher of the Year” awards, and has worked in the non-profit and education sectors, striving to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for thousands of children across the United States.

The first generation of his family to graduate college, Tony earned his Bachelors of Arts degree at the University of Rochester and a Masters in Education at Pace University. Tony and his wife, Lauren, are raising their two young kids, Ava and Luca, in Omaha. They are proud parishioners of St. Frances Cabrini Church, where Tony and Lauren were married.

For more information, visit vargasfornebraska.com. For a high-resolution picture of Tony, click here.

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