    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [February 12, 2000]
    [Pages 238-239]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    February 12, 2000

        Good morning. Today I want to speak with you about the important
    steps we're taking to reach one of our Nation's highest goals, helping
    all our people to succeed at work and in the most important work of all,
    caring for their children.
        For 7 years now, this administration has taken action to give
    families more of the tools they need to balance the difficult demands of
    work and home. We've helped to make child care better, safer, and more
    affordable for millions of families. We've greatly expanded preschool
    and after-school programs. We've fought to give generous tax credits to
    help the growing numbers of families who provide care for aging or
    ailing loved ones at home.
        This month we're celebrating the seventh anniversary of the Family
    and Medical Leave Act, the very first bill I was privileged to sign as
    President. That bill was the product of years of hard work by a large
    coalition of caring leaders, many of whom have joined me here today.
    They should be very proud of their efforts.
        The family and medical leave law has now given more than 20 million
    Americans the opportunity to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care
    for a newborn child or a sick relative or attend to their own serious
    health needs without fear of losing their jobs. Everywhere I go, people
    come up to me and tell me how much this law has meant to their lives.
    I've heard people say that the time they were able to take off to be by
    their dad's side in the hospital or bond with a new daughter at home was
    the most important time they've ever spent.
        Not only has the law been a godsend for families, it's also been
    good for business. Nearly 85 percent of businesses reported that
    complying with the law required no extra cost. In fact, in many cases it
    has actually helped save them money by cutting down on turnover and
    reducing the expense of training new workers.
        But for all the success of this law, we know we can and should do
    more. Today, there are still large numbers of families who need to take
    leave from work but can't afford to give up the income. That's why, 3
    months ago, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman and I proposed a new rule to
    give States flexibility to use their existing unemployment insurance
    programs to offer paid leave to new parents. Participation is purely
    voluntary, but we hope States will take advantage of this. Before they
    do, they must determine how it will affect the soundness of their
    unemployment system.
        Today I am pleased to announce a new way we can make it easier for
    States to take up this challenge. I'm proposing $20 million in new
    competitive grants to help develop and evaluate creative new approaches
    for providing paid family leave to workers, whether it's through
    unemployment insurance, temporary disability programs, or any other
    source. Many States have already recognized the great need for paid
    leave and have begun drafting their own proposals to provide it. We hope
    and believe our grants will help to speed the way.
        There are two more steps I believe we should take right away. Once
    again, I asked Congress to expand family and medical leave to give
    parents time off when they have to go to see their

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    children's teachers or take them to the doctor. And I asked Congress to
    extend the benefits of the law to employees of smaller companies, so
    that we can reach another 10 million American families. I want to thank
    Senator Dodd, who is here with me today,
    and Senator Kennedy and Representatives
    Clay, Woolsey, and Maloney for their
    tireless work on behalf of these proposals. With their leadership, I
    believe we will succeed in expanding family and medical leave this year.
        I've often wondered how my own mother, when she was a young widow,
    would have been able to go away to train as a nurse if my grandparents
    hadn't been there to take care of me. My mother and I were lucky. So
    were many other American families. But none of our families should have
    to rely on luck alone, and no American should ever have to choose
    between the job they need and the parent or child they love. If we use
    this moment wisely, we can help to ensure that they'll never have to
    make that choice again.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 4:52 p.m. on February 11 in the Oval
    Office at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 12.
    The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on February 11 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.