    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [January 29, 1993]
    [Page 19]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Teleconference Remarks on Family and Medical Leave Legislation
    January 29, 1993

        The President. Thank you very much, Al. And hello, ladies and
    gentlemen. I want to thank you for agreeing to join us on this telephone
    call today and through this telephone call to speak to the people in
    your own State and throughout the United States.
        One of the things that we are determined to do here in Washington is
    open the Government to you and never let people forget, who are here
    making decisions, that you and lives are at stake and that these matters
    that we discuss and vote upon here really do affect real people out in
    our country.
        So with that, let me just now go from one person to the next and let
    each of you say something about how this family and medical leave act
    might affect your life in the future or could have affected your life in
    the past or the fact that we didn't have it affected you.

    [At this point, the President took a series of telephone calls from
    people who described their personal experiences.]

        The President. Ladies and gentlemen, I know I speak for Vice
    President Gore when I thank all of you for your courage and your support
    on behalf of your own children and your own families and working
    families all across this country. We believe that next week, the
    Congress and the leaders who have worked on this in both parties will
    help our Nation join the 72 other countries who already have family and
    medical leave. And if it happens, it will be because of people like you
    and for people like you.
        I think a lot of you said this, but I just want to close with this:
    It's easy for people to talk about family values, but it's also
    important for us to value families. And your Government is going to be
    given a chance to value the American family next week. We hope and pray
    they'll do it. And if it does happen, you all can claim a lot of the
    credit.
        Thank you so much for being with us today, and have a wonderful
    time. And keep those kids making that good noise. I like to hear it.
        Bless you all. Goodbye.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 11:42 a.m. from the Oval
    Office at the White House. He was introduced by the Vice President.