WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2008) – Congressman John Yarmuth has been honored by Working Mother Media and Corporate Voices for Working Families with the inaugural Best of Congress award, for improving the American quality of life through family-friendly work policies. The award spotlights Congressman Yarmuth’s congressional excellence in supporting working families through legislation and by practicing what is preached – employing family-friendly policies in his own office.

A profile of Congressman Yarmuth is featured in the August/September 2008 issue of Working Mother magazine and at www.workingmother.com. 

“Not only did we judge Congressman Yarmuth on his voting records for supporting working families, we also examined the benefits that his own employees receive like paid leave and flextime,” Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media, said. “John Yarmuth is stepping up voluntarily because he believes in progressive policies and acts on his beliefs in the real world managing his staff.”

“John Yarmuth has shown what can be accomplished through legislation and a personal commitment to policies that benefit working families,” Donna Klein, president and founder of Corporate Voices for Working Families, said. “As our nation wrestles with a host of economic and other issues involving working families, Congressman Yarmuth deserves to be congratulated and recognized nationally for his leadership and support.”

In his first term in the House, Yarmuth has been a strong supporter of legislation to raise the minimum wage, improve workplace conditions, prohibit gender discrimination in determining salaries, and guarantee adequate maternity leave and time off for health reasons.  He has also sponsored and cosponsored legislation to increase educational opportunities at every level, including Head Start for young children, Striving Readers for middle and high school students, and the College Cost Reduction Act— which was signed into law last year and is the largest investment in college affordability since the G.I. Bill.

“Fighting for Louisville’s working families is my top priority in Congress, so I am honored to have my work recognized by ‘Working Mother’ and ‘Corporate Voices for Working Families,” Yarmuth said.  “This is the land of opportunity, and we are working to make sure that the American Dream is attainable for every man, woman, and child who works for it.”

Members who were considered for the award were judged on their voting records, sponsored/co-sponsored legislation, and efforts to promote legislation that supports working families.  Members were also asked to submit policies and practices within their own offices that support working families and flexible workplace options.

 Award recipients were chosen by a bipartisan steering committee co-chaired by Ted Childs, Founder and Principal of Ted Childs, LLC and Jane Swift, Founder and Principal of WNP Consulting, LLC and former Governor of Massachusetts.  Also on the steering committee reviewing applications were Patricia Kempthorne, Founder and Executive Director of the Twiga Foundation and Pat Schroeder, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers and former congresswoman from Colorado.
 
The Best of Congress award will be presented to Yarmuth at a recognition breakfast in Washington on Sept. 10, at Sewell House.  Recipients of the Best of Congress award will attend, and Antonio M. Perez, CEO of Kodak, will talk about the award and issues involving working families.

Working Mother magazine has been in the forefront of the movement to improve the quality of life for working families for over 29 years and annually honors the 100 best companies whose policies create family-friendly workplaces.

About Corporate Voices for Working Families
Corporate Voices for Working Families is the leading national business membership organization representing the private sector on public policy issues involving working families.  We aim to improve the lives of working families and the competitiveness of American businesses. Our Web site: www.cvworkingfamilies.org. Our blog: www.corporatevoices.wordpress.com.

About Working Mother Media
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.  Its 22-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media, which was founded in 2001. WMM includes the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), Diversity Best Practices, the WorkLife Congress, the Multicultural Women's Conference and Town Halls.  Working Mother Media's mission is to champion culture change. For more information, please visit www.workingmother.com.