Working Mother magazine and Corporate Voices for Working Families today announced that U.S. Senator Herb Kohl and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin have been named "Best of Congress" for working families.  They received the "Best of Congress" award after a review of their voting record, legislative record, advocacy for children and families, and office policies.  Kohl and Baldwin are featured in the September issue of Working Mother magazine, published today, and will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington, DC on September 22nd.  This is the second "Best of Congress" award, a biannual award that will be presented to lawmakers who work to advance economically sound policies that support and create opportunities for working families.  Kohl was also a recipient of the inaugural award in 2008.  

"Working parents are pulled in so many directions, trying to do what's best for their families and a good job for their employers.  Policies that help blend those worlds more efficiently are good for our families, our businesses and, ultimately, our economy," Kohl said.  "It's an honor to be chosen for this award, which reminds us that working families have circumstances that require an active balancing act."              

"Wisconsinites have always been known for the strength of their work ethic and their devotion to family," said Baldwin.  "Balancing the two is especially challenging for working parents with children at home or aging parents of their own who need extra care.  I'm proud to be honored for my efforts to strengthen Wisconsin families, protect our most vulnerable, and help grow our economy," Baldwin said.              

"The recipients of the Best of Congress Award serve as models for what can be accomplished through legislation and a personal commitment to policies that benefit working families," Donna Klein, CEO and Executive Chair of Corporate Voices, said. "As our nation continues to face a number of economic and other issues involving working families, these members of Congress deserve to be congratulated and recognized nationally for their leadership, advocacy and support of best-practice family-friendly workforce policies."  

Kohl is being honored for his work to reduce the costs of health care, support education, protect food safety, reduce energy costs, strengthen child support enforcement, defend retirement security, protect the elderly and help rural families. This includes his work to fund a range of education initiatives, from early childhood education to after-school programs to job training to college.  

As Chairman of both the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights and the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Kohl has sought to lower prescription drug costs in a number of ways, by increasing access to generic drugs, supporting the dissemination of comparative effectiveness research to physicians, and disclosing drug and device industry efforts to lobby doctors.  In addition, he has championed efforts to protect children from household drug waste and protect families from tainted dietary supplements.  Also through his role as Aging Chairman, he has assisted members of the "sandwich" generation care for their aging parents, through better public ratings of nursing homes, more information about continuing care retirement communities, expanded training opportunities for home health aides, and improved support for family caregivers.  

As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Panel, Senator Kohl championed funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides grants to states for supplemental food and nutrition services to pregnant women, babies and children under five.  Kohl also worked to make the federal school breakfast program available in more schools across the country.  

Congresswoman Baldwin, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, helped craft health care reform legislation that makes health insurance accessible to all; allows parents to keep children up to age 26 on their health insurance policy; ends denial of coverage because of pre-existing conditions; and ends the cancelling of coverage because you get sick.  She is the author of legislation that would expand Family and Medical Leave to cover part-time employees.              

Recognizing family diversity, Baldwin is the author of legislation that would put the federal government on a par with a majority of Fortune 500 companies by extending employee benefit programs to cover the domestic partners of federal employees to the same extent as those benefits cover spouses of federal employees.              

From her own experience caring for her elderly grandmother, Baldwin became a staunch advocate for elder rights and protections.  She authored legislation passed in the House to help stop abusive mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors; legislation championed by Sen. Kohl in the Senate.  Baldwin co-sponsors legislation to prevent and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.              

Baldwin is also recognized for being a model employer who consistently demonstrates sensitivity to the needs of each member of her staff, including those with young children, ailing parents, or ill spouses.  

Recipients of the Best of Congress award are featured in the August/September 2010 issue of Working Mother magazine and at www.workingmother.com.