[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10316-S10317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Mrs. Dole, Ms. 
        Mikulski, Mr. Graham, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Brown)):
  S. 1898. A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to 
expand family and medical for spouses, sons, daughters, and parents of 
servicemembers with combat-related injuries; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Military 
and Family Medical Leave Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the 
Family and Medical Leave Act, FMLA, for up to 6 months for children, 
spouses and parents of soldiers who have been injured in combat. This 
legislation implements a key recommendation made last week by the 
Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors. I would 
also like to acknowledge my colleagues Senators Dole, Mikulski, Graham, 
Kennedy and Brown whose partnership on this legislation reflects the 
fact that supporting our families and service-members is a bipartisan, 
common sense issue.
  The families of our servicemen and women face extraordinary demands 
as they struggle to care for loved ones injured in service to our 
Nation. Yet, currently, family members of these injured servicemembers 
receive no additional leave to accommodate the support they need.
  The Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors was 
established in March 2007 with the specific goals of conducting a 
comprehensive review of services the Government currently provides to 
our wounded warriors and delivering recommendations to the President, 
Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  In its review, the commission found that 33 percent of active duty, 
22 percent of reserve component, and 37 percent of retired/separated 
servicemembers report that a family member or close friend relocated 
for extended periods of time to be with them while

[[Page S10317]]

they were in the hospital. In addition, 21 percent of active duty, 15 
percent of reserve component, and 24 percent of retired/separated 
servicemembers say friends or family gave up a job to be with them or 
act as their caregiver.
  To address this situation and help support these caregivers, the 
commission recommended strengthening family support programs by 
extending the FMLA for up to 6 months for the family members of 
seriously injured soldiers. This is a step we can make immediately that 
will make a real difference. Our men and women in uniform have made 
tremendous sacrifices on our behalf and we have a responsibility to do 
everything we can to make sure they have the care and support they 
need.
  The Military Family and Medical Leave Act will enact this 
recommendation by amending the FMLA to allow up to 6 months leave for a 
family member of a servicemember who has a combat-related injury and 
meets the eligibility requirements in the law.
  It is my hope that my colleagues will join Senators Dole, Mikulski, 
Graham, Kennedy, Brown and me in supporting this important legislation.
                                 ______