[Begin insert]--> Mr. DODD. Mr. President, in my nearly 16 years as a U.S. Senator few accomplishments have given me as much pride as the day in February 1993 when President Clinton signed into law the Family and Medical Leave Act .
Passage of this legislation was an exhausting, lengthy, and sometimes exasperating process. But in the end, through the hard and courageous work of Senators from both sides of the political aisle, the vast opportunities for family and medical leave were made available to millions of Americans.
In an era when the American people bemoan the lack of bipartisanship and compromise in Washington, when they decry the blatant and nasty partnership, the Family and Medical Leave Act stands in sharp contrast.
Family and medical leave is an issue that truly goes beyond partisan political differences. It is something that every American, be they Democrat or Republican, can relate to and understand.
Enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act in 1993 threw millions of struggling Americans a lifeline. It made it easier for people to balance the responsibilities of work with their responsibilities to their family . And most important, it said to the American people: If you or a loved one becomes ill, you won't be forced to choose between your family and your job.
But, my involvement with the issue of family and medical leave did not end with its enactment. There is more work to be done.
Across America, working families, teachers, and school boards continue to lament the lack of parental involvement in their children's lives. With more and more families working outside the home, with mothers and fathers too busy and too stressed from working long hours, children are losing the guiding hand they need from their parents.
The Family and Medical Leave Act performed a genuine need among America's working families to allow them take leave in times of medical and family emergency. This legislation would continue that process by providing parents with the time they need to make a difference in their children's education.
For that reason, I am today introducing legislation that would build on our earlier successes while at the same time offering greater leave opportunities and flexibility to our Nation's families.
First, it would lower the threshold of coverage to include worksites with 25 or more employees. Today, 40 percent of private sector employees remain unprotected by the Family and Medical Leave Act because their worksite does not meet the current 50-or-more employee threshold.
Second, the bill would grant eligible parents 24 hours of unpaid leave per year to participate in their children's school or community group activities. Parents would provide their employers with at least 2 weeks notice and could take only 4 hours per month, unless otherwise agreed to by the employer.
These are commonsense reforms that build on the successes of the Family and Medical Leave Act while providing expanded opportunities for American families.
For those of my colleagues who doubt the success of the Family and Medical Leave Act , I urge them to examine a recent bipartisan report, which indicates that the success of the Family and Medical Leave Act is clear cut.
When this legislation passed in 1933, provisions of the bill established a commission to examine the impact of the act on workers and businesses. The commission's analysis spanned 2 1/2 years, including independent research and field hearings across the country to hear first hand about the act's impact from individuals and businesses.
Additionally, through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we commissioned two major research surveys to gauge the impact of family leave policies on employees and employers. These surveys provided us with the first statistically valid, nationally representative data on the impact on the legislation.
And, the overall findings of this commission are quite clear--family and medical leave is an overwhelming success. What's more, according to the commission's final report, the law represents `A significant step in helping a larger cross-section of working Americans meet their medical and family caregiving needs while still maintaining their jobs and economic security.'
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