Patricia Schroeder: “I was honored to serve as one of the congressional members on the Commission To Oversee the Implementation of the Family…”

“I was honored to serve as one of the congressional members on the Commission To Oversee the Implementation of the Family Medical Leave Act. As my colleagues know, I started with that bill and it took me 9 years to get it passed, so I was very anxious to see the report that was released yesterday. I hope Members all take a look at that report. It is very, very moving, because, guess what? Companies did not run out of jobs or did not have to shut down because of family medical leave. People did not claim family medical leave during the deer season or to go on cruises or anything else. People used it very seriously, for family issues. When we couple that with the fact that in the last 10 years that has really been about the only work and family issue in the workplace that has happened, I think we must look at this report, realize how urgent it is to address work and family issues, and move on. This report really clears away a lot of the misstatements and the misinformation that circled around this issue. Let us get on with it and let us help America's families in the workplace.”