[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 6 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKPLACE ACT

 Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of S. 4, the 
Family Friendly Workplace Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor 
of this important measure. By amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
1938, this act would provide employees with flexible work schedules, 
and increase their choices and options for their time at work and 
quality time with their families. Ensuring that such opportunities are 
provided to our workers, better known as mothers and fathers, can only 
serve to strengthening our American families.
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 63 percent of mother and 
father households now see both parents working outside of the home. 
Moreover, 76 percent of mothers with school-age children now work. That 
is why we must take action now to help employees balance the demands of 
work and family lives. I believe the Family Friendly Workplace Act is 
an important first step in helping our Nation's working parents do just 
that.
  In 1993, the President signed the Family and Medical Leave Act into 
law. While well intended, the Federal Government took a 13-page law and 
transformed it into 300 pages of regulations. It then became a true 
administrative nightmare. Instead of targeting employees with choices 
and options for their work schedules, the President decided instead to 
target employers with a mandated mound of paperwork. To make matters 
worse, the President announced during the 1996 campaign his intention 
to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act by forcing employers to 
provide school activity and community leave for their employees. Such 
misguided mandates resurrect the words of Abraham Lincoln who said, 
``You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.'' As 
lawmakers, we have the ability to prevent this Nation from traveling 
further down the road of federally mandated workplace conditions. By 
passing the Family Friendly Workplace Act, we will avoid the creation 
of an environment littered with friction and litigation and embrace 
mutual cooperation and respect.
  Wage payers are not heartless and cruel reincarnations of Ebenezer 
Scrooge. Having played the wage payer role for over 26 years, I take 
great offense when employers are characterized as being the bad guys. 
The majority of employers cherish their most valuable assets--their 
employees. It is truly misleading and deceptive for anyone to say 
otherwise. For without the employee, management will ultimately have no 
staff, no profits--and no business. Watching out for employees is just 
good business.
  As an alternative to employer mandates, this legislation would 
provide compensatory time off that would allow employers to offer and 
employees to choose to use compensatory time for school and family 
activities and a whole range of other personal reasons--without getting 
the Government involved in certifying and documenting these events. The 
President's expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act would require 
employees to get certification for taking time off to attend a child's 
soccer match, piano recital, or even a meeting with a school-teacher. 
Under this bill, employees have the right to choose compensatory time 
instead of cash wages at a rate not less than 1\1/2\ hours of each hour 
of overtime worked. Employees would be able to accrue up to 240 hours 
annually and have the opportunity to cash-out their accrued hours at 
least once a year. That's a lot of time we should be spending with our 
children--an investment in our future.
  Federal employees have enjoyed flexible work schedules, chock full of 
choices and options, since 1978. Legislation that amends the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 is long overdue. We appear to have no confidence 
in private sector employees' ability to make rational decisions on how 
to spend their time.
  I have been blessed with a wife and three wonderful children. Like 
many who place value in time shared with family, I believe that such 
moments are a priceless commodity that can never be replaced--or 
regained--once lost. At a time when our society clings to every fiber 
of family life, I can see no better way for Congress and the President 
to express our support for the American family than by passing and then 
urging the President to sign into law, S. 4, the Family Friendly 
Workplace Act.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in giving employees the opportunity 
to balance their work and family obligations.
  I yield the floor.

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