[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E218-E219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE EXPANSION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2002

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation which would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act so that 
individuals can take time off when disaster strikes.
  Each year, disasters such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, 
earthquakes, and other tragedies strike thousands of families and 
businesses throughout the United States. In the last year alone, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responded to forty-five 
declared disasters and ten emergencies in thirty-two states, the 
District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. More than 49,500 affected 
families and businesses sought assistance after the September 11th 
attacks.
  Following a disaster, families often have no home, belongings, 
clothing, or transportation. They struggle to deal with insurance 
companies, government officials, the Red Cross, and other organizations 
so that they can get the assistance they need to get back to normal. 
For many individuals this process can take several weeks, if not 
months.
  While most employers are sympathetic and compassionate people, they 
sometimes will not allow employees to take the time they need to manage 
a disaster and get their lives

[[Page E219]]

in order again. As a result, these individuals are left with no home, 
no belongings and no job. This situation can often create a downward 
spiral for some families, where they cannot recover.
  The legislation I have introduced would expand the successful Family 
and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) so that individuals can take time off from 
work to resolve their situations during a natural disaster. Dealing 
with a natural disaster is as trying an ordeal as a health crisis, and 
amending the FMLA to include this change will ensure that workers are 
protected in times of family crisis.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

                                 H.R.--

       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 ``Family Medical Leave 
     Expansion Act''.

     SEC. 2. LEAVE IN CASE OF STATE OR FEDERALLY DECLARED 
                   DISASTER.

       (a) Non-Federal Employees.--Section 102(a)(1) of the Family 
     and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(E) Because of a State or Federally declared disaster 
     occurring in the geographical area in which the employee 
     resides, works, or through which the employee must travel to 
     get to work or as a part of the employee's work duties.''.''
       (b) Federal Employees.--Section 6382(a)(1) of title 5, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(E) Because of a State or Federally declared disaster 
     occurring in the geographical area in which the employee 
     resides, works, or through which the employee must travel to 
     get to work or as a part of the employee's work duties.''.

     

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