[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
recognition of the 4-year anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave 
Act. Approved by the Senate on January 29, 1993, this important 
legislation was the first bill of the 103d Congress signed into law by 
newly elected President Clinton.
  Prior to the enactment of the family medical leave law, families 
already confronting the hardships caused by a seriously ill relative 
had an additional burden to bear: a fear of losing their jobs should 
they choose to stay home to care for a loved one. For workers striving 
to meet the competing demands of home and office, there was no 
consistent standard of protection.
  The Family Medical Leave Act provides that basic standard of job 
security to more than 67 million American workers; guaranteeing 
employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a newborn child or 
newly adopted child or to care for an immediate family member with a 
serious health condition. In addition, the law enables workers to take 
medical leave when they themselves are unable to work because of a 
serious health condition--without fear of being fired or losing their 
health insurance.
  After 4 years of successfully helping American families strike a 
balance between work and family, it is difficult to believe that it was 
necessary to struggle for many years and overcome two vetoes by 
President Bush in order to enact this fundamental protection for 
working Americans. Since its enactment, this law has enabled 
approximately 12 million men and women to take time off from work to 
meet the care-giving needs of their families.
  While opponents of the Family Medical Leave Act raised concerns about 
the law's effect on business, their fears have been proven ungrounded 
by the congressionally charged Bipartisan Commission on Leave. The 
Commission on Leave, made up of business and labor leaders, 
representatives of women and families, and members of Congress, 
provided an initial assessment of the family medical leave law in April 
1996. The Commission found that while the law has had a significant 
impact on employers' leave policies and practices, increasing the 
reasons for which employees can take leave, this impact has come with 
minimal administrative activities and almost no costs. In fact, a 
number of employers have reported a positive impact on business 
performance because of Family Medical Leave Act policies.
  Mr. President, as a strong supporter and original cosponsor of this 
significant measure, I am especially pleased with the success of the 
family medical leave law. Because of this law, millions of Americans, 
who otherwise may have been forced to choose between the demands of 
home and workplace, have been able to meet both their personal and 
professional obligations. As fundamental as the Fair Labor Standards 
Act, the Social Security Act and the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act, this law reaffirms the Democratic commitment to ensuring a measure 
of job protection to all hard-working Americans.

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