[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7932-S7933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Daschle, 
        Mr. Feingold, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
        Wellstone, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Akada, and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 1304. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to 
allow employees to take school involvement leave to participate in the 
academic school activities of their children or to participate in 
literacy training, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.


                      time for schools act of 1999

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, in 1993, thanks to the hard work of 
Senator Dodd and others, we passed the Family and Medical Leave Act 
(FMLA). It was one of the first pieces of legislation that I was 
intimately involved in passing. During the last six years we've come to 
realize that it has been a huge success. In fact, as we come to the 
close of the decade we can honestly say that FMLA has been one of the 
more useful laws we've passed in the last ten years.
  Now I want to expand upon that success and allow parents a little bit 
of time under the current time constraints of FMLA to participate in 
school activities. The ``Time for Schools Act of 1999'' will allow a 
parent 24 hours per year to participate in the academic activities of 
his or her child. This 24 hour period comes from the already available 
12 weeks under FMLA.
  This is something our country needs. Parents overwhelmingly want more 
time to support their children in school. Businesses thrive when our 
schools produce well-trained graduates--and parental involvement helps 
kids succeed.
  As a parent, I know how difficult and how important it is to 
participate in the education of children. I have been lucky to have had 
the opportunity to be involved in the school lives of my children. But 
many parents don't have the time it takes to do those little things 
that will assure their child's success in school, because they can't 
get away from their jobs.
  By adding academic school activities to one of our most successful 
laws, we will give parents something they need: time off to become 
directly involved with their children's learning.
  These days we have many dual-income families and single parents 
struggling to work to make ends meet. All of these families know how 
important it is to be involved in their children's learning. However, 
the single largest barrier to parental involvement at schools seems to 
be lack of time.
  Studies have shown that family involvement is more important to 
student success than family income or family education levels. In fact, 
things parents can control, such as limiting excess television watching 
and providing a variety of reading materials, account for almost all 
the differences in average student achievement across states.
  All sectors of our communities want more time for young people. 
Students, teachers, parents and businesses feel something must be done 
to improve family involvement. In fact, 89 percent of company 
executives identified the biggest obstacle to school reform as the lack 
of parental involvement.
  And, a 1996 post-election poll commissioned by the national PTA found 
that 86 percent of people favor legislation that would allow workers 
unpaid leave to attend parent-teacher conferences, or to take other 
actions to improve learning for their children.
  A commitment to our children is a commitment to our nation's future. 
I want to make sure all young people receive the attention they need to 
succeed.
  My legislation will allow parents time to: (1) attend a parent/
teacher conference; (2) participate in classroom educational 
activities; or (3) research new schools.
  I look at the Family and Medical Leave Act--which has helped one in 
six American employees take time to deal with serious family health 
problems, and which 90 percent of businesses had little or no cost 
implementing--and I see success. People in my state have been able to 
deal with urgent family needs, without losing their jobs.
  A 1998 study by the Families and Work Institute found that 84% of 
employers felt that the benefits of providing family or medical leave 
offset or outweigh the costs. Taking time out for children not only 
helps parents and children, but is also beneficial to business.
  My bill extends the uses of family leave to another urgent need 
families face--the need to help their children learn. The time is right 
for the ``Time for Schools Act.''
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1304

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Time for Schools Act of 
     1999''.

     SEC. 2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LEAVE.

       (a) Entitlement to Leave.--Section 102(a) of the Family and 
     Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Entitlement to school involvement leave.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to section 103(f), an eligible 
     employee shall be entitled to a total of 24 hours of leave 
     during any 12-month period to participate in an academic 
     activity of a school of a son or daughter of the employee, 
     such as a parent-teacher conference or an interview for a 
     school, or to participate in literacy training under a family 
     literacy program.
       ``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
       ``(i) Family literacy program.--The term `family literacy 
     program' means a program of services that are of sufficient 
     intensity in terms of hours, and of sufficient duration, to 
     make sustainable changes in a family and that integrate all 
     of the following activities:

       ``(I) Interactive literacy activities between parents and 
     their sons and daughters.
       ``(II) Training for parents on how to be the primary 
     teacher for their sons and daughters and full partners in the 
     education of their sons and daughters.
       ``(III) Parent literacy training.
       ``(IV) An age-appropriate education program for sons and 
     daughters.

       ``(ii) Literacy.--The term `literacy', used with respect to 
     an individual, means the ability of the individual to speak, 
     read, and write English, and compute and solve problems, at 
     levels of proficiency necessary--

       ``(I) to function on the job, in the family of the 
     individual, and in society;
       ``(II) to achieve the goals of the individual; and
       ``(III) to develop the knowledge potential of the 
     individual.

       ``(iii) School.--The term `school' means an elementary 
     school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in 
     section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801)), a Head Start program assisted 
     under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and a 
     child care facility operated by a provider who meets the 
     applicable State or local government licensing, 
     certification, approval, or registration requirements, if 
     any.
       ``(4) Limitation.--No employee may take more than a total 
     of 12 workweeks of leave under paragraphs (1) and (3) during 
     any 12-month period.''.
       (b) Schedule.--Section 102(b)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
     2612(b)(1)) is amended by inserting after the second sentence 
     the following: ``Leave under subsection (a)(3) may be taken 
     intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.''.
       (c) Substitution of Paid Leave.--Section 102(d)(2)(A) of 
     such Act (29 U.S.C.

[[Page S7933]]

     2612(d)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting before the period the 
     following: ``, or for leave provided under subsection (a)(3) 
     for any part of the 24-hour period of such leave under such 
     subsection''.
       (d) Notice.--Section 102(e) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(e)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Notice for school involvement leave.--In any case in 
     which the necessity for leave under subsection (a)(3) is 
     foreseeable, the employee shall provide the employer with not 
     less than 7 days' notice, before the date the leave is to 
     begin, of the employee's intention to take leave under such 
     subsection. If the necessity for the leave is not 
     foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is 
     practicable.''.
       (e) Certification.--Section 103 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
     2613) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Certification for School Involvement Leave.--An 
     employer may require that a request for leave under section 
     102(a)(3) be supported by a certification issued at such time 
     and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulation 
     prescribe.''.

     SEC. 3. SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT LEAVE FOR CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES.

       (a) Entitlement to Leave.--Section 6382(a) of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(3)(A) Subject to section 6383(f), an employee shall be 
     entitled to a total of 24 hours of leave during any 12-month 
     period to participate in an academic activity of a school of 
     a son or daughter of the employee, such as a parent-teacher 
     conference or an interview for a school, or to participate in 
     literacy training under a family literacy program.
       ``(B) In this paragraph:
       ``(i) The term `family literacy program' means a program of 
     services that are of sufficient intensity in terms of hours, 
     and of sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes in a 
     family and that integrate all of the following activities:
       ``(I) Interactive literacy activities between parents and 
     their sons and daughters.
       ``(II) Training for parents on how to be the primary 
     teacher for their sons and daughters and full partners in the 
     education of their sons and daughters.
       ``(III) Parent literacy training.
       ``(IV) An age-appropriate education program for sons and 
     daughters.
       ``(ii) The term `literacy', used with respect to an 
     individual, means the ability of the individual to speak, 
     read, and write English, and compute and solve problems, at 
     levels of proficiency necessary--
       ``(I) to function on the job, in the family of the 
     individual, and in society;
       ``(II) to achieve the goals of the individual; and
       ``(III) to develop the knowledge potential of the 
     individual.
       ``(iii) The term `school' means an elementary school or 
     secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 14101 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 8801)), a Head Start program assisted under the Head 
     Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and a child care facility 
     operated by a provider who meets the applicable State or 
     local government licensing, certification, approval, or 
     registration requirements, if any.
       ``(4) No employee may take more than a total of 12 
     workweeks of leave under paragraphs (1) and (3) during any 
     12-month period.''.
       (b) Schedule.--Section 6382(b)(1) of such title is amended 
     by inserting after the second sentence the following: ``Leave 
     under subsection (a)(3) may be taken intermittently or on a 
     reduced leave schedule.''.
       (c) Substitution of Paid Leave.--Section 6382(d) of such 
     title is amended by inserting before ``, except'' the 
     following: ``, or for leave provided under subsection (a)(3) 
     any of the employee's accrued or accumulated annual leave 
     under subchapter I for any part of the 24-hour period of such 
     leave under such subsection''.
       (d) Notice.--Section 6382(e) of such title is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) In any case in which the necessity for leave under 
     subsection (a)(3) is foreseeable, the employee shall provide 
     the employing agency with not less than 7 days' notice, 
     before the date the leave is to begin, of the employee's 
     intention to take leave under such subsection. If the 
     necessity for the leave is not foreseeable, the employee 
     shall provide such notice as is practicable.''.
       (e) Certification.--Section 6383 of such title is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) An employing agency may require that a request for 
     leave under section 6382(a)(3) be supported by a 
     certification issued at such time and in such manner as the 
     Office of Personnel Management may by regulation 
     prescribe.''.

     SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act takes effect 120 days after the date of enactment 
     of this Act.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join in sponsoring 
The Time for Schools Act of 1999, and I commend Senator Murray for her 
impressive leadership. This legislation will provide parents with much-
needed assistance as they struggle to balance the needs of their 
children and the demands of their jobs.
  Six years ago, the Family and Medical Leave Act became the first bill 
signed into law by President Clinton. Workers covered by the law can 
take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year in order to care for a 
newborn or adopted child, or a seriously ill family member, and know 
that their jobs will be there when they get back.
  By any measure, the Family and Medical Leave Act has been a 
resounding success. Over 89 million Americans--70% of the workforce--
are covered by the law, and millions of workers have been able to take 
the time they need to care for their families. The vast majority of 
covered employers--over 90%--have found the law relatively easy to 
administer, according to the bipartisan Commission on Family and 
Medical Leave.
  Now it is time to take another step, and extend that success to 
enable parents to take up to 24 hours of unpaid family leave a year to 
be involved in their children's academic activities at school. I am 
proud that, under state law, parents in Massachusetts know they can 
take care of their children's school needs without losing their jobs. 
We should give all parents across the nation that right under federal 
law, too.
  Parents play a crucial role in their children's lives. But too often, 
society offers them only barriers and blame as they try to raise their 
children. While we hear a lot of talk about family values, the test is 
whether we genuinely value families. If we do, then we must adopt 
better policies to help working parents balance the competing demands 
of the workplace and their responsibility to care for their children.
  We know that working parents want to be more involved in their 
children's lives. In a study by the PTA, two-thirds of employed parents 
with children under 18 felt they did not have enough time to spend with 
their children. Forty percent felt they weren't devoting enough time to 
their children's education. Almost a quarter reported that attending 
teacher-parent conferences created problems at work.
  We know that involved parents increase the likelihood of a child's 
success at school. According to some studies, it may be the single most 
important factor in student learning. One study showed that the 
involvement of both parents in their child's school was significantly 
associated with the child's academic achievement.
  The Time for Schools Act will give working parents up to 24 hours of 
leave a year to participate in their children's school activities, such 
as attending parent-teacher conferences, taking part in classroom 
educational activities, or selecting the right school for their 
children.
  Responsible employers know that flexible family workplace policies 
mean better, more productive workers. These policies are good for 
families, and good for business. In 1998, survey by the Families and 
Work Institute reported that the overwhelming majority of employers--
84%--agree that the benefits of family or medical leave offset the 
costs.
  The advantage of this legislation to employers are clear. A mother or 
father worried about how a child is doing at school is a less effective 
employee. The 24 hours of leave granted under this Act will be counted 
towards the 12 weeks of leave already provided under the Family and 
Medical Leave Act. In addition, workers must give employers a week's 
notice, except in emergencies. As a result, the legislation will have 
only a minimal impact on employers.
  The tragedies we have witnessed at schools in recent years 
demonstrate how important it is for parents to pay attention to how 
children are doing at school. When this bill becomes law, workers will 
know they don't have to stop being parents when they go to work. They 
can be good parents at school, as well as after school.
  Again, I commend Senator Murray for her leadership on this important 
measure, and I look forward to working with her to enact it as soon as 
possible this year.
                                 ______