Chairman Miller Statement on the Anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today, the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

“American workers should never have to choose between their jobs and their loved ones. Workers should be able to take time off to care for a newborn baby or a sick relative without worrying about whether their jobs will disappear. That is the point of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Well over 60 million American workers have taken advantage of the Family and Medical Leave Act since it was enacted 15 years ago today.

“This year, Congress strengthened this important law to help military families cope with a deployment overseas or assist in the care of an injured veteran. We owe it to our troops to do everything we can to ensure that their families are taken care of while they are risking their lives for our country.

“While the Family and Medical Leave Act was a landmark accomplishment, we should and will continue to look for more ways to make family-friendly policies more common in the American workplace.”

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible workers can take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period in order to care for a sick relative or a new child or to recover from illness. For more information on recent legislation that improves FMLA coverage for military families, click here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853