[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24609-24611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING NATIONAL WORK AND FAMILY MONTH

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 768) expressing support for the designation of the 
month of October as ``National Work and Family Month,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 768

       Whereas, according to a report entitled ``Attraction and 
     Retention'' published by an organization called WorldatWork, 
     the quality of workers' jobs and the supportiveness of their 
     workplaces are key predictors of job productivity, job 
     satisfaction, commitment to employers, and retention;
       Whereas, according to a 2008 report by the Families and 
     Work Institute entitled National Study of the Changing 
     Workforce, employees with a high level of work-life 
     integration are, compared to employees with moderate or low 
     levels of work-life integration, more highly engaged and less 
     likely to look for a new job in the next year, and also enjoy 
     better overall health, better mental health, and lower levels 
     of stress;
       Whereas, according to a 2004 report entitled ``Overwork in 
     America'', employees who are able to effectively balance 
     family and work responsibilities are less likely to report 
     making mistakes or feeling resentment toward employers and 
     coworkers;
       Whereas, according to the Best Places to Work in the 
     Federal Government rankings released by the Partnership for 
     Public Service and American University's Institute for the 
     Study of Public Policy Implementation, work-life balance and 
     a family-friendly culture are among the key drivers of 
     employee

[[Page 24610]]

     engagement and satisfaction in the Federal workforce;
       Whereas finding a good work-life balance is important for 
     workers in multiple generations, as indicated by a 2009 
     survey entitled ``Great Expectations! What Students Want in 
     an Employer and How Federal Agencies Can Deliver It'', which 
     found that attaining a healthy work-life balance was an 
     important career goal of 66 percent of respondents, and a 
     2008 study entitled ``A Golden Opportunity'', which found 
     that workers between the ages of 50 and 65 are a strong 
     source of experienced talent for the Federal workforce and 
     that nearly 50 percent of these potential workers find 
     flexible work schedules ``extremely appealing'';
       Whereas, according to research by the Radcliffe Public 
     Policy Center in 2000, men in their 20s and 30s and women in 
     their 20s, 30s, and 40s identified as the most important job 
     characteristic a work schedule that allows them to spend time 
     with their families;
       Whereas, according to research by the Sloan Center for 
     Aging and Work, a majority of workers age 53 and older 
     attribute their success as an employee, by a great or 
     moderate extent, to job flexibility, and also report that, to 
     a great extent, job flexibility contributes to an overall 
     higher quality of life;
       Whereas employees who are able to effectively balance 
     family and work responsibilities feel healthier and more 
     successful in their relationships with their spouses, 
     children, and friends;
       Whereas 85 percent of United States wage and salaried 
     workers have immediate, day-to-day family responsibilities 
     outside of their jobs;
       Whereas, according to the 2006 American Community Survey, 
     47 percent of wage and salaried workers are parents with 
     children under the age of 18 who live with them at least 
     half-time;
       Whereas job flexibility often allows parents to be more 
     involved in their children's lives, and parental involvement 
     is associated with higher child achievement in language and 
     mathematics, improved behavior, greater academic persistence, 
     and lower dropout rates;
       Whereas a 2000 study entitled Urban Working Families 
     revealed that a lack of job flexibility for parents 
     negatively affects child health by preventing parents from 
     making needed doctors' appointments and children from 
     receiving adequate early care, which makes illnesses more 
     severe and prolonged;
       Whereas, from 2001 to early 2008, 1,700,000 active duty 
     troops have served in Iraq and 600,000 members of the 
     National Guard and Reserve (133,000 on more than one tour) 
     have been called up to serve, creating a need for policies 
     and programs to help military families adjust to the 
     realities that come with having a family member in the 
     military;
       Whereas according to a Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention (CDC) report, less than half of mothers who work 
     full time exclusively breastfeed their newborns although 
     support for lactation at work benefits individual families as 
     well as employers by improving productivity and staff 
     loyalty, and decreasing absenteeism and employee turnover;
       Whereas according to the CDC, breastfeeding is the most 
     beneficial form of infant nutrition, and the greater the 
     duration of breastfeeding, the lower the odds of pediatric 
     obesity;
       Whereas studies report that family rituals, such as sitting 
     down to dinner together positively influence children's 
     health and development, and that healthy lifestyle habits, 
     including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the 
     risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases;
       Whereas unpaid family caregivers will likely continue to be 
     the largest source of long-term care for elderly United 
     States citizens, and the Department of Health and Human 
     Services estimates the number of such caregivers to reach 
     37,000,000 by 2050, an increase of 85 percent from 2000, as 
     baby boomers reach retirement age in record numbers; and
       Whereas the month of October would be an appropriate month 
     to designate as ``National Work and Family Month'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of ``National Work and Family 
     Month'';
       (2) recognizes the importance of balancing work and family 
     to job productivity and healthy families;
       (3) recognizes that an important job characteristic is a 
     work schedule that allows employees to spend time with 
     families;
       (4) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Work and 
     Family Month'', and urges public officials, employers, 
     employees, and the general public to work together to achieve 
     more balance between work and family; and
       (5) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Work and Family Month'' with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from Kentucky 
(Mr. Guthrie) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 768 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 768, which expresses 
support for National Work and Family Month.
  Currently, most people work, and balancing work and family is 
particularly challenging for these workers. This is particularly true 
for working women who comprise over one half of the workforce and are 
more likely than men to be primary caregivers of children or other 
family members.
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women spend about 6.3 
hours a day caring for children under the age of 13, while men spend 
4.1 hours.
  In addition, women feel more societal pressure than men to stay home 
with a child or elderly parent who requires care. There is substantial 
evidence that family-friendly policies help parents balance work and 
family, improve employers' bottom line, and have beneficial effects on 
children.
  A 2008 report by the Families and Work Institute found that workers 
who are able to balance work and family are more highly engaged in 
their work and less likely to look for a new job in the next year. They 
also enjoy better overall health, better mental health and lower levels 
of stress. In fact, family-friendly policies might be the keys to this 
country's prosperity. The Government Accountability Office has 
published a study on the practices of other countries and found that 
policies such as paid leave help workers, especially women, enter and 
remain in the workforce.
  Finding a good balance between work and family is important to most 
people. A 2009 survey of students found that two-thirds of respondents 
cited a healthy work-life balance was an important career goal.
  In addition, research by the Radcliff Public Policy Center found that 
women in their 20s, 30s and 40s and men in their 20s and 30s identified 
the most important job characteristic to be a job schedule that allows 
them to spend time with their families.
  A majority of workers age 53 and older attribute their success as an 
employee to job flexibility, which contributes to an overall higher 
quality of life. By the same token, lack of job flexibility for parents 
negatively affects child health because they are taken to their doctor 
less often and do not receive adequate early care.
  Studies have found that family rituals such as sitting down to dinner 
together and sharing activities and holidays positively influence 
children, children's health and development. Due to the aging of the 
baby boomers, the Department of Health and Human Services estimates 
that the number of unpaid caregivers will reach 37 million by 2050, up 
85 percent from 2000.
  I encourage my colleagues to support designating October as National 
Work and Family Month in order to shine a light on the beneficial 
effects of balancing work and family.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 768, 
expressing support for the designation of the month of October as 
National Work and Family Month.
  Establishing a healthy balance between work and family obligations is 
something that most workers, women and men, struggle with at some point 
in their careers. Studies have shown that employees who are able to 
effectively balance family and work responsibilities are less likely to 
report making mistakes or feel resentment towards employers and 
coworkers.

[[Page 24611]]

  Eighty-five percent of the United States' wage and salaried workers 
have immediate day-to-day family responsibilities outside of their 
jobs. Workplace flexibility often allows parents to be more involved in 
their children's lives. Parental involvement is associated with 
children's higher achievement in language and mathematics, improved 
behavior, greater academic persistence, and lower dropout rates.
  Today, with this resolution, we support the designation of the month 
of October as National Work and Family Month. Through this designation, 
we recognize the importance of balancing work and family; and we urge 
public officials, employers, employees, and the general public to work 
together to achieve more balance between work and family.
  I stand in support of this resolution, and I ask my colleagues' 
support.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize at this time the 
author of the resolution, the distinguished gentlewoman from New York 
(Mrs. McCarthy) for as much time as she may consume.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I want to thank my colleagues for bringing 
this resolution to the floor. I also want to thank my ranking member on 
our Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, Mr. Platts. He 
and I have worked very well on a number of issues, and we appreciate 
his hard work in joining me as the lead cosponsor on this resolution.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Kline, and 
all of the committee staff who always do such a wonderful job. National 
Work and Family Month is the centerpiece of a national educational 
campaign to raise awareness among employers about the value of work-
life integration.
  The goal is to encourage all workplaces to pause once a year during 
the month of October to communicate and celebrate the progress already 
made on the journey to creating healthier and more flexible work 
environments and then raise the bar to accomplish even more the 
following year. Workplace flexibility is extremely important in today's 
busy world. Corporations that engage in these family-supportive 
practices have earned well in their stock values.
  This year, more than ever, employers need to know there is an 
inexpensive, efficient way to motivate and retain top talent that they 
will need to get through tough times. Employees need to know it's good 
to utilize work-life programs offered in an organization because it 
will help them become much more productive. Over 5 years, every 
October, businesses all over the country have celebrated National Work 
and Family Month.
  The problem of work-life conflicts affects everybody. A majority of 
working men and a significant portion of women with children under the 
age of 18 report some level of work-life conflict.
  It's important to designate a time for employers to help employees 
understand their option and achieve better work-life integration. 
Meanwhile, employees need to know it's good to utilize work-life 
programs offered at any organization, because it will help them become 
more productive.
  Decades of research show that an investment into work-life categories 
provide a positive return and investment, a more productive, engaged 
and healthier workforce.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I encourage 
the adoption of this resolution in commemorating the work and balance 
that families have to have between work and family time. I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in 
support of H. Res. 768, ``Expressing support for the designation of the 
month of October as National Work and Family Month'' I would like to 
thank my colleague, Rep. McCarthy, for introducing this act of 
solidarity, as well as the co-sponsors.
  It is well established that employees who are able to effectively 
balance family and work responsibilities feel healthier and more 
successful in their relationships with their spouses, children, and 
friends. The quality of workers' jobs and the supportiveness of their 
workplaces are key predictors of job productivity, job satisfaction, 
commitment to employers, and retention; employees who are able to 
effectively balance family and work responsibilities are less likely to 
report making mistakes or feeling resentment toward employers and 
coworkers. These workers are also engaged and less likely to look for a 
new job in the next year, and also enjoy better overall health, better 
mental health, and lower levels of stress.
  It is not only at the office that this balance makes a difference--
job flexibility often allows parents to be more involved in their 
children's lives, and parental involvement is associated with higher 
child achievement in language and mathematics, improved behavior, 
greater academic persistence, and lower dropout rates. Conversely, a 
lack of job flexibility for parents negatively affects child health by 
preventing children from making needed doctors' appointments and 
receiving adequate early care, which makes illnesses more severe and 
prolonged.
  American workers know this firsthand. That's why research by the 
Radcliffe Public Policy Center in 2000 found that men in their 20s and 
30s and women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s identified as the most 
important job characteristic a work schedule that allows them to spend 
time with their families. According to research by the Sloan Center for 
Aging and Work, a majority of workers age 53 and older attribute their 
success as an employee, by a great or moderate extent, to job 
flexibility, and also report that, to a great extent, job flexibility 
contributes to an overall higher quality of life.
  In a 2009 survey entitled ``Great Expectations! What Students Want in 
an Employer and How Federal Agencies Can Deliver It'', attaining a 
healthy work-life balance was an important career goal of 66 percent of 
respondents, and a 2008 study entitled ``A Golden Opportunity'', which 
found that workers between the ages of 50 and 65 are a strong source of 
experienced talent for the Federal workforce and that nearly 50 percent 
of these potential workers find flexible work schedules ``extremely 
appealing''. According to the 2006 American Community Survey, 47 
percent of wage and salaried workers are parents with children under 
the age of 18 who live with them at least half-time.
  Since 85 percent of United States wage and salaried workers have 
immediate, day-to-day family responsibilities outside of their jobs, 
efforts to help workers achieve this balance is of no small importance 
to the prosperity of our nation. As an example, from 2001 to early 
2008, 1,700,000 active duty troops have served in Iraq and 600,000 
members of the National Guard and Reserve (133,000 on more than one 
tour) have been called up to serve, creating a need for policies and 
programs to help military families adjust to the realities that come 
with having a family member in the military.
  This resolution supports the designation of ``National Work and 
Family Month''; recognizes the importance of balancing work and family 
to job productivity and healthy families; recognizes that an important 
job characteristic is a work schedule that allows employees to spend 
time with families; supports the goals and ideals of ``National Work 
and Family Month'', and urges public officials, employers, employees, 
and the general public to work together to achieve more balance between 
work and family; and requests that the President issue a proclamation 
calling upon the people of the United States to observe ``National Work 
and Family Month'' with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support House 
Resolution 768, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 768, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________