[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 122 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1773-E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF MILITARY FAMILIES LEAVE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Military Families Leave Act, a bill that will take a small step to help 
ease the burden of military families in this country.
  Nearly everyday we hear stories about the hardships of the families 
of our nation's soldiers. Family members of deployed soldiers

[[Page E1774]]

face unique challenges, especially in the first days and weeks after 
the member has been summoned to duty. The National Military Family 
Association has testified that it hears from many families about the 
difficulties of balancing new family and personal requirements with 
their regular duties when a family member is deployed. As members of 
Congress, we too hear from constituents who struggle with this balance. 
I believe there are measures we can take to ease this burden and 
increase flexibility in the lives of our military family members.
  The legislation I am introducing today is one of the steps we can 
take in that direction. The Military Families Leave Act allows spouses, 
parents, or children of military personnel who are serving on, or are 
called to active duty, in support of a contingency operation to use 
their Family and Medical Leave Act benefits for issues directly related 
to deployment. The bill does not extend the FMLA to anyone; it simply 
allows those who already qualify for the FMLA to use that benefit in 
new specific instances. For example, if a woman's husband is deployed 
for a contingency operation, she can use her FMLA benefit to secure 
power of attorney or to arrange for necessary childcare. Or, in a 
single parent situation, the mother or father of the deployed 
servicemember could use his or her FMLA benefit to care for a 
grandchild. This bill has been carefully drafted to stipulate that this 
leave could only be taken for issues directly relating to or resulting 
from the deployment of a family member.
  This bill is a companion to a bill introduced by Senator Russ 
Feingold S.683. That bill was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate 
as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2004 Iraq Supplemental 
Appropriations bill, but it was unfortunately subsequently stripped in 
conference. However, this bill continues to have widespread support 
from military reserve, active duty, and military family organizations.
  I would like to submit for the record support letters from the 
Reserve Enlisted Association, the National Military Family Association, 
and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United 
States. Others who support this bill are the Military Officers 
Association of America, the National Guard Association of the United 
States, and the Reserve Officers Association.
  The time is ripe to show our military families that we are listening 
to their concerns. The Military Families Leave Act represents a small 
measure of relief for the families of the men and women who serve in 
our armed forces. I ask that my colleagues join me in assisting our 
military families by supporting this bill.
                                  ____
                                  
                                          National Military Family


                                                  Association,

                                                   Sept. 14, 2004.
     Hon. Tom Udall,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Udall: The National Military Family 
     Association, NMFA, is a national nonprofit membership 
     organization whose sole focus is the military family. NMFA's 
     mission is to serve the families of the seven uniformed 
     services through education, information and advocacy.
       On behalf of NMFA and the families it serves, I would like 
     to thank you for introducing legislation to amend the Family 
     and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide entitlement to leave 
     to eligible employees whose spouse, son, daughter, or parent 
     is a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty in 
     support of a contingency operation or notified of an 
     impending call or order to active duty in support of a 
     contingency operation.
       NMFA has heard from many families about the difficulty of 
     balancing family obligations with job requirements when a 
     close family member is deployed. Suddenly, they are single 
     parents or, in the case of grandparents, assuming the new 
     responsibility of caring for grandchildren. The days leading 
     up to a deployment can be filled with pre-deployment 
     briefings and putting legal affairs in order. Families also 
     need the opportunity to spend precious time together prior to 
     a long separation. The need is no less when the servicemember 
     returns. Reintegration and transition requires training not 
     only for the servicemember but for the family as well in 
     order to be most effective.
       Military families, especially those of deployed 
     scrvicemembers, are called upon to make extraordinary 
     sacrifices. Thus amendment offers families some breathing 
     room as they adjust to this time of separation.
       Thank you for your support and interest in military 
     families. If NMFA can be of any assistance to you in other 
     areas concerning military families, please feel free to 
     contact us.
           Sincerely,
                                               Candace A. Wheeler,
     President.
                                  ____



                                                       EANGUS,

                                                   Sept. 16, 2004.
     Hon. Tom Udall,
     U.S. Congress,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Udall: The Enlisted Association of the 
     National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) would like to 
     thank you, on behalf of the enlisted men and women of the 
     Army and Air National Guard, for drafting the Military 
     Families Leave Act of 2004.
       Families of mobilized National Guard and Reserve members, 
     as well as the families of deployed active duty service 
     members, experience many hardships. Your bill will help 
     alleviate some of the stress involved when, a principal 
     family member is deployed. Allowing the use of the Family and 
     Medical Leave Act of 1993 for those family members can 
     greatly assist during a difficult time.
       Thank you so much for recognizing one of the many deeds of 
     the military community. EANGUS will support the Military 
     Families Leave Act in any way possible. If there is anything 
     we can, do to assist, please let us know.
       If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to ask.
           Working for America's Best!
                                 MSG (Ret.) Michael P. Cline, AUS,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

         Reserve Enlisted Association and Reserve Officers 
           Association,
                                                   Sept. 29, 2004.
     Hon. Tom Udall,
     U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Udall The Reserve Officers Association, 
     representing 75,000 Reserve Component members, and the 
     Reserve Enlisted Association supporting all Reserve enlisted 
     members supports your bill, to amend the Family and Medical 
     Leave Act to provide authority for Reserve Component family 
     members to take leave in conjunction with a call-up.
       The Guard and Reserve are contributing approximately 40 
     percent of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and are gone 
     from home for the longest period of time ever anticipated. 
     Many families are faced with having to accommodate this 
     absence with often less than 30 days notice and it requires a 
     considerable amount of time to make the necessary 
     adjustments. Family members supporting a spouse, son, 
     daughter or parent that is serving on active duty, should not 
     have to also be afraid of losing their job.
       The bill recognizes many of the problems encountered in the 
     current mobilization and provide solutions. We are stunned 
     and appreciative of all of the co-sponsors who have supported 
     this generous but necessary measure. ROA and REA applaud your 
     effort and concern.
           Sincerely,

                                                 Lani Burnett,

                                              CMSgt, USAFR (Ret.),
                                           REA Executive Director.

                                           Robert A. McIntosh,

                                      Major General (Ret.), USAFR,
     ROA Executive Director.

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