[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 91 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCING THE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 30, 2005

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative George 
Miller to introduce the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act of 2005.
  More than a decade ago, the momentous and highly successful Family 
and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became law. With the FMLA, Congress 
required large companies to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and 
medical leave to its employees. And while no one will argue with FMLA's 
success, there remains room for improvement.
  On July 1, 2004, California became one of five states to improve FMLA 
by providing 6 weeks of paid leave. A study found that by providing 
wages during periods of leave, the new program worked even better than 
the original. A higher percentage of workers returned to their jobs 
after taking paid leave, and businesses were having no trouble shifting 
the workload absent employees left behind.
  Prudently, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act introduced today 
builds on the successes of both FMLA and the California paid-leave 
program. This new bill provides workers nationwide with up to 55 
percent of their wages for as long as 12 weeks. This leave can be used 
to care for a newborn or adopted child, disabled family members, or to 
take care of their own short-term disability.
  Since unpaid leave has worked well to reduce worker turnover and 
improve workers productivity, there is every reason to believe that 
paid leave would improve the lives of families and increase the profits 
of companies further.
  In addition, the Harvard School for Public Health reports that the 
education and health of children improves when their parents have paid 
sick leave and work flexibility. Of children whose math and reading 
scores are in the bottom 25 percent, more than half have parents who 
lack paid sick leave and work flexibility. These same children were 
more likely to suffer from sickness, infection, chronic illness and 
under-immunization.
  A Canadian government study demonstrated that extended time off for 
parents with their newborn child is directly associated with the 
successful social and cognitive growth of the child.
  I'm pleased to have worked closely with a wide range of worker and 
consumer organizations to develop this bill. The legislation is 
endorsed by the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, National Partnership for 
Women and Families, and others.
  With continued rhetoric focusing on ``family values,'' this bill 
gives Congress a concrete opportunity to strengthen both families and 
businesses.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Paid Family and Medical Leave 
Act, and look forward to enacting this bill to strengthen families, 
make businesses more competitive and create a stronger America for the 
future.

                          ____________________