[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 82 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1585, NATIONAL DEFENSE 
                 AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008

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                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Congressman 
Altmire for offering this amendment and also want to thank Chairman 
Miller for his support. Over the past two Congresses I have introduced 
legislation very similar to the language we are now considering, and I 
am very hopeful that it will be included in today's bill.
  For every soldier who is deployed overseas, there is a family back 
home faced with new and challenging hardships. The toll extends beyond 
emotional stress. From raising a child to managing household finances 
to day-to-day events, families have to find the time and resources to 
deal with the absence of a loved one.
  Today's amendment offers a way to help ease this transition. The 
Altmire-Udall amendment would allow spouses, parents or children of 
military personnel to use Family and Medical Leave Act benefits for 
issues related directly to the deployment of a soldier. Current FMLA 
benefits allow individuals to take time off for the birth of a child or 
to care for a family member with a serious illness. The deployment of a 
soldier is no less of a crisis and certainly puts new demands on 
families. We should ensure that the FMLA benefits given in other 
circumstances are provided to our fighting families during their time 
of need.
  The passage of this amendment and its inclusion in the final 
conference report will bring new relief to thousands of families across 
the nation, and it will demonstrate the thanks we owe our brave men and 
women serving overseas.

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