Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called it a “first in the nation” workforce development program.

Without immigrants, most of the city’s restaurant industry would collapse, and there would be few carpenters or housekeepers.

Chairman Phil Mendelson said earlier this week that he would seek a moratorium on “similar laws” in the wake of the Universal Paid Leave Act.

The Council will take a first vote next Tuesday on a law that would guarantee District workers 11 weeks in the event of a birth or adoption and 8 weeks to care for an ailing family member, funded by a .62 percent increase in payroll taxes.