[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17035-17036]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE ACT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, every day millions of men and women 
across America get up and go to work. Their labor--whether it is 
building bridges or selling groceries, programming computers or 
cleaning homes--is what makes this country great.
  Their work is the foundation of our economy and of our communities 
and families. Over 100 million Americans rely on their jobs to keep a 
roof over their heads and put food on the table, pay their doctor's 
bills, save for their children's college tuition, and retire in 
dignity. But all of that can be threatened in an instant when serious 
injury or illness strikes.
  Fourteen years ago, we passed the Family and Medical Leave Act to 
enable employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to 
care for themselves or a seriously ill family member. For the first 
time, employees could meet their responsibility to their loved ones 
without risking their jobs. It was landmark legislation--the first bill 
signed into law by President Clinton in 1993--and tens of millions of 
families are healthier and more secure because of it.
  But for millions of Americans, the ability to meet their family 
health needs is still out of reach. Most American families can't afford 
to take unpaid leave because it means they will miss even one weekly 
paycheck. They need every week's income to meet the rent, pay the 
electricity bill, and feed their families. A serious illness shouldn't 
mean choosing between caring for a sick child, spouse or parent, or 
suffering a financial catastrophe.
  That is why I strongly support the Family Leave Insurance Act. This 
legislation will fill a serious gap in the Nation's health policy. It 
builds on the Family and Medical Leave Act by providing a safety net 
for the average working family.
  Under this vital legislation, employees would be eligible for up to 8 
weeks of paid benefits while they care for their families. With such 
benefits, workers would not be forced to choose between the families 
they love and the paychecks they need.
  Most important, the program targets the employers and workers who 
will most benefit from the program. Lower income workers, who are least 
able to afford time off from their jobs, would be eligible for up to 
100 percent of their weekly income. Smaller employers would have the 
option to participate--and would receive special incentives for doing 
so.
  This is an idea whose time has come. California has led the way with 
its paid leave program, which has been a great success. Other State 
legislatures around the country are considering it as well.
  The Family Leave Insurance Act is just one of the important new 
policies we should adopt to help America's working families. We also 
need to address the nearly half of American workers who don't receive 
paid sick days at work--and millions more who cannot take paid time off 
to care for their families.
  That is why I will continue to fight for the Healthy Families Act, 
which will provide up to 7 paid sick days a year to workers, to help 
them meet immediate and short-term health needs not covered by the 
Federal Leave Insurance Act.
  I commend my colleagues, Senator Dodd and Senator Stevens, for their

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leadership on this issue. This legislation, together with the Healthy 
Families Act, removes the risk that a sudden illness in the family will 
devastate a worker's financial well-being. Hard-working American 
families deserve no less.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Family Leave Insurance Act.

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