Senator Chris Dodd released the following statement today on the 17th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) being signed into law. Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families, authored the bill and shepherded it through years of opposition before it was signed into law by President Clinton on February 5, 1993.
“Before the enactment of the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans risked losing their jobs if they needed to stay home and care for a newborn child or a sick family member,” said Dodd. “Thanks to this law, in the last 17 years, 60 million Americans have been to take time off from work and care for their families and loved ones. But our work is not done. Americans should not have to chose between losing their pay and caring for their families, which is why I will continue to fight for paid sick and family leave for all workers.”
Last year, Dodd introduced the Healthy Families Act along with Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3). The Healthy Families Act builds upon FMLA by allowing workers to earn paid sick time to address medical needs and care for family members. Under this legislation, workers would be able to earn up to 56 hours of paid sick time to use to stay home and get well when they are ill, care for a sick family member, obtain preventative or diagnostic treatment, or to seek help if they are victims of domestic violence.
During his 30 year career in the Senate, Dodd has fought for the rights of children and families across the nation. In addition to authoring the Family Medical Leave Act, Dodd also championed passage of the law which allows family members of wounded soldiers to take up to six months of leave time.
