The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S870-S871 on Feb. 11, 2016.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last Friday, America celebrated the 23rd anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act--landmark legislation that transformed American workplaces for the better.
I am deeply proud to have voted for this bill in 1993 when I served in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation was a major victory for many working families, providing workers the ability to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for family needs.
This meant working parents could take care of their newborns without fear of losing their jobs and sources of income. Workers could care for an ailing family member or care for their own serious health conditions without having to worry about whether they would be able to come back to their careers.
Before the Family and Medical Leave Act, being a working parent meant having to choose between your job and taking care of yourself and your family. Today, thanks to this legislation, this attitude has changed for many families.
Since 1993, American workers have used the leave provided by the Family and Medical Leave Act more than 200 million times. This legislation has helped balance workplace demands with family needs for millions of hard-working men and women across the country. And there is no doubt that these are achievements we should all be proud of.
But we need to do more.
As families change, so should the laws designed to help them--our workforce, our economy, and our family responsibilities have changed dramatically over the past two decades. Women now make up half the workforce, and many families depend on two incomes. Family caregiving needs are on the rise, and both men and women provide critical care.
But according to a recent Department of Labor survey, only 60 percent of employees have access to FMLA leave--and 8 out of 10 eligible workers cannot afford to take leave when they need it.
For too many Americans, unpaid leave is not an option--it is unaffordable. Just 13 percent of the workforce has paid family leave through their employers, and less than 40 percent have personal medical leave through an employer-provided disability program.
It is clear that we need to do more to ensure families can earn the support they need. I am proud that both Senator Murray and Senator Gillibrand have stepped up and introduced legislation this Congress to address these shortcomings. I hope we will continue to see support for these bills and get more of my colleagues from across the aisle to talk about these concerns.
The reality is ensuring paid family and sick leave would help keep new parents and family caregivers in the workforce and boost their earnings and savings overtime. Studies have already shown that mothers who are able to take paid maternity leave are more likely to return to their jobs and stay in the workforce. That just means more money for families to spend and put back into our economy.
Expanding paid family and sick leave makes moral sense, and it makes economic sense. It is about time we get it done.
As we mark the anniversary of this groundbreaking legislation, I hope we take the time to recommit ourselves to the values that inspired this law. Let's continue to lead on this issue and expand paid family and health leave to cover more families.
I will continue to fight and protect the benefits provided by the Federal and Medical Leave Act and help ensure fairer workplaces and healthier, more secure families.
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