[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 20 (Thursday, February 5, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E174-E175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT ANNIVERSARY

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 5, 2015

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today on February 
5, 2015, we celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Family and Medical 
Leave Act, a family-friendly workplace policy that has benefited 
millions of American families. Since its passage in 1993, this landmark 
law has been used 200 million times by men and women across the nation. 
These individuals and their families have benefited from up to 12 weeks 
of unpaid job protected leave to care for a new child, sick family 
member, or a loved one recovering from a serious health condition.
  While we celebrate this anniversary we must also recognize that after 
more than two decades our nation's family leave policies have not kept 
pace with changes to America's families and workforce. FMLA provides 
unpaid leave, which means families must choose between foregoing a 
paycheck and caring for a loved one. Most families today no longer have 
a stay-at-home parent to care for a new child, and even before the 
economic crisis, few could afford to go without pay for any length of 
time.
  We need new policies that show that we truly value America's 
families. That is why I recently introduced the Federal Employees Paid 
Parental Leave Act, legislation that provides federal employees with 6 
weeks of paid leave following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a 
child. The Federal government is our nation's largest employer and as 
such should be leading the way on family-friendly workplace policy. By 
extending paid parental leave for new parents this bill helps diminish 
the risk of real economic hardship for the 2 million federal employees 
following the birth or adoption of a child.
  I urge my colleagues to pass legislation that brings our country 
forward to the 21st Century

[[Page E175]]

and reflects the realities of our nation's workforce.

                          ____________________