[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 29 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E220-E221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2013

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this February marks the 
20th anniversary of the enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act. 
The Family and Medical Leave Act afforded millions of employees leave 
of their jobs for personal and family emergencies while keeping their 
job security intact. This bill expanded access to extended medical 
leaves to millions of workers and military caregivers enabling these 
citizens to take a leave intermittently whenever medically necessary to 
care for a loved one with a serious injury or illness.
  The Family and Medical Leave Act has afforded millions of Americans 
with up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in one year for family and 
health events without jeopardizing their employment or their health 
insurance. Since enactment, American families have used the law more 
than 100 million times. The law has given mothers and fathers the 
ability to care for a new baby or a seriously-ill child. The law has 
helped adults caring for a sick spouse, child, or parent with serious 
health conditions--a protection that will grow exponentially in 
importance as the generation of baby boomers age.
  Despite the strides we have taken in protecting our workers, many 
Americans are not able to take advantage of the time off and 
protections offered under the Family and Medical Leave Act. For 
example, businesses with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from the 
law, leaving tens of millions of workers ineligible. The need for 
continued improvement to federal law is clear from the story of Toya, 
as told by the Family Values at Work organization. Working as a 
substitute teacher at the grade school level, Toya needed to take time 
off to care for her sick children. After several days her boss posed a 
question to her that should never be asked: ``What's more important, 
your children or your job?'' Upon choosing her children, she was told 
her services were no longer needed. Federal law should not condone, 
support, or facilitate these situations.
  The anniversary of this legislation provides an opportunity to re-
affirm that our nation is committed to fair benefits for all workers 
and to serve as a launching point to strengthen federal laws protecting 
workers. I celebrate this law and the relief it provides daily to 
millions of Americans, allowing them the ability to securely take leave 
from work in order to accommodate emergencies. Such protections 
constitute a worker's right, not a privilege. On this anniversary, we 
should examine the law's success as well as areas for improvement. I 
celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act and 
the piece of mind

[[Page E221]]

it gives families so that they can care for loved ones knowing that 
their jobs will be waiting for them.

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