Political Quotes

“I rise to raise concern about a 5-to-4 decision that was reached earlier this week by the Supreme Court on the Family and Medical Leave Act, a bill that, along with many others in this body, I helped write back in the 1990s. It took a long time--about 7 years--from the time that bill was first introduced to the time it became law in February of 1993. But it was a singular achievement which improved tremendously the quality of life for millions of people who had worried about their dearly beloved ones--their children, their parents--so when their loved one was sick or they had a newborn or adopted a child, they could take some time off--12 weeks maximum in a year of unpaid leave--to be with their family during a time of crisis, or a 'joyous crisis,' a birth, if you will--that is hardly a crisis but, nonetheless, an important period in people's lives, or a legitimate crisis--a child's illness or a parent they were caring for-- to be with them without losing their job.”