[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 59 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H4399-H4400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REPORT RELEASED ON FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

  (Mrs. SCHROEDER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I was honored to serve as one of the 
congressional members on the Commission To Oversee the Implementation 
of the Family Medical Leave Act. As my colleagues know, I started with 
that bill and it took me 9 years to get it passed, so I was very 
anxious to see the report that was released yesterday. I hope Members 
all take a look at that report.
  It is very, very moving, because, guess what? Companies did not run 
out of jobs or did not have to shut down because of family medical 
leave. People did not claim family medical leave during the deer season 
or to go on cruises or anything else. People used it very seriously, 
for family issues.
  When we couple that with the fact that in the last 10 years that has 
really

[[Page H4400]]

been about the only work and family issue in the workplace that has 
happened, I think we must look at this report, realize how urgent it is 
to address work and family issues, and move on. This report really 
clears away a lot of the misstatements and the misinformation that 
circled around this issue. Let us get on with it and let us help 
America's families in the workplace.

                          ____________________