by James Parks, Jan 29, 2008

Through the efforts of the Democratic majority in Congress, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has been extended for the first time since the bill was passed 15 years ago. The legislation extends unpaid family and medical leave for up to six months for the families of wounded military personnel.

The law enables military family members to take FMLA leave for “any qualifying exigency” relating to a family member’s call up to active duty or deployment.

Just three weeks ago, President Bush vetoed defense authorization legislation that included provisions to extend the FMLA to family members of wounded service members. The White House said Bush opposed a provision in the bill, which could freeze the assets of the Iraqi government in the United States if an American sued that country. He signed the FMLA extension this week.

Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, says:

This measure can make a real difference for military families that have made great sacrifices and are under enormous stress. It is urgently needed and long overdue.

This is the first-ever expansion of the nearly 15-year-old…Act, but it should not be the last. Family and medical leave is important to all families facing serious health problems. Lawmakers should look to expand the leave this law provides, for returning service members and for all Americans. 

The National Partnership is a nonprofit, non-partisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace.

Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), who introduced the amendment to expand the FMLA, says (see video):

By extending the Family Medical Leave Act to military families, [this] provision will help parents, spouses and children take care of a number of issues that arise when a loved one is deployed. America’s soldiers and their families have made enormous sacrifices to protect our country. Any step we can take to help them overcome the challenges they face before, during and after deployment is a step in the right direction.   

Even as Bush signed this expansion, the U.S. Department Labor is considering new regulations on the FMLA. Although the proposed regulations are not public, the AFL-CIO has consistently opposed efforts to make it more difficult to access FMLA leave.  

Ness urged the administration not to weaken the FMLA protections workers have relied on for 15 years. 

We must move forward rather than turning back the clock and adopt policies that help America’s workplaces become more family-friendly so individuals can be productive workers and responsible family members.

Under FMLA, companies employing 50 or more people must allow workers up to 12 weeks a year of unpaid leave to care for themselves or family members during serious health conditions or for the birth or adoption of a child. Some 7 million people took FMLA leave in 2005, the latest year for which data is available.

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