Herb Kohl: “I thank Senator Wyden and Senator Baucus for their attention to these important policies and look forward to working…”

“I thank Senator Wyden and Senator Baucus for their attention to these important policies and look forward to working with them in the weeks ahead. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the editorial to which I referred be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: [From the New York Times; Jan. 28, 2009] Caring for the Caregivers With more jobs being lost all the time across the board-- more than 71,000 layoffs in the United States were announced on Monday and Tuesday alone--there should be comfort in the fact that one sector, health care, continues to add jobs. In December, employers added 32,000 health-related positions. Unfortunately, one of the fastest-growing areas within the health care field--home care for the elderly--also is one of the lowest paid and most exploitable. Outdated labor rules from 1975 allow home care aides to be defined as companions, which exempts their employers, usually private agencies, from federal standards governing overtime and minimum wages. As the population has aged, however, demand for home care has grown and the work has evolved far beyond companionship. It is not uncommon for home care workers to perform significant housekeeping chores and to help their elderly clients move, dress and eat, make sure they take their medicines and go to doctors' appointments.”