[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INCLUSION ACT AND THE 
                FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ENHANCEMENT ACT

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, February marks the twelfth anniversary of 
the Family and Medical Leave Act. The Family and Medical Leave Act (PL 
103-3), allows employees to take time off from work to care for a new 
baby or sick family member. It has allowed more than 35 million 
Americans to be able to take unpaid leave without the risk of losing 
their jobs in its twelve years since becoming law. Today, I am 
introducing two pieces of legislation that will expand the Family and 
Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
  Imagine if your adult child, your parent-in-law, domestic partner or 
grandparent was involved in a serious car accident and had no one to 
take care of him or her. Then imagine your employer telling you that 
you can't take a few days off work to care for your loved one because 
you are not covered by FMLA. This situation sounds preposterous, but 
there is no protection for you in current law. That is why I am 
introducing the FMLA Inclusion and the FMLA Enhancement Acts.
  The Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act (H.R. 1430 in the 108th 
Congress) amends the FMLA to permit leave to care for a domestic 
partner, same-sex spouse, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or 
grandparent if that person has a serious health condition. Currently, 
the FMLA allows qualified workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid 
leave to care for newborns, seek emergency medical care for himself/
herself, parents, children under 18 or a legal spouse.
  The Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act (H.R. 956 in the 108th 
Congress). Building on the success of the FMLA, this legislation would 
allow more people to benefit from Family and Medical Leave by allowing 
employees in companies with more than 25 employees to take Family and 
Medical Leave and would extend employee leave for workers to go to 
parent-teacher conferences or to take their children, grandchildren or 
other family members to the doctor for regular medical appointments.

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