Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008, which was introduced by our colleague Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney on April 14, 2008. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, I am proud to serve as an original cosponsor of this bill, along with 21 other Members of Congress. H.R. 5781 takes an important step in improving the Federal Government's ability to recruit and retain a highly qualified workforce by providing paid parental leave to Federal and congressional employees for the birth, adoption or placement of a child for foster care, which is a benefit that is extended to most employees in the private sector as well as to government employees in other countries. In considering H.R. 5781, the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia marked up the bill on April 15, 2008, and favorably recommended the measure to the Full Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after adopting an amendment offered by Committee Chairman Henry Waxman that would permit only 4 weeks of paid parental leave instead of the 8 weeks included in the bill as introduced. The full committee then held a markup on H.R. 5781 on April 16, 2008, and ordered the bill to be reported to the floor, as amended, by a roll call vote of 21-10. During the consideration of H.R. 5781, I had asked that language be included in the bill directing the Government Accountability Office to study the feasibility of providing a disability insurance benefit to Federal employees who had to take time off to care for a spouse, child or parent that has a serious health condition or for a Federal employee that has a serious health condition that renders him or her unable to perform their job functions. While the manager's amendment that we will be discussing later on removes this provision from the bill, I am happy to report that at my request GAO has agreed to perform a study that will analyze disability insurance benefits that are currently being offered by States, local governments and the private sector. The bill being considered today will allow all Federal and congressional employees to receive 4 weeks of paid leave taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act for the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child. As many of my colleagues are aware, the current FMLA statute provides Federal workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child with an employee. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us does nothing more than permit Federal employees to receive paid leave for 4 out of the 12 weeks if the leave is connected to the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child, and to use accrued sick or annual leave, if available, for the remaining 8 weeks. Let us be clear: This bill currently being considered does not provide Federal workers any additional time nor expand beyond the 12 weeks given under the current law. The bill before us has also been strengthened by granting the Director of the Office of Personnel Management the authority to increase paid parental leave from 4 weeks to 8 weeks after considering a thorough cost and benefit analysis. Parental leave is a pertinent concern around the world, and, unfortunately, America is lagging behind in offering paid leave for parents. The governments of 168 countries offer guaranteed paid leave to their female employees in connection with childbirth. Ninety-eight of these countries offer 14 or more weeks paid leave. Currently the Federal Government as an employer guarantees no paid leave. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I again reiterate my support for H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008, and urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Representative Woolsey.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the stellar chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Representative Waxman.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, so if the gentleman will close.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to a strong proponent and defender of workers rights, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to another Member who is actively engaged in workers' rights issues, Representative Chris Van Hollen from Maryland.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Representative Maloney of New York.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, can I inquire as to how much time we have left.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, could I inquire of the gentleman from California if he is prepared to close.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would yield myself the rest of our time to close. Mr. Speaker, it has been a rather spirited discussion and debate, and I'm reminded of the fact that we often compare public employees with private employees. And I know that we have amongst us Members who like the idea of downsizing government, of privatizing operations, of outsourcing activities. I believe that our public employees can in fact be the best that we help and allow them to become. I believe that we can recruit the best and the brightest. But I also believe that if you want production, then you have to make sure that you are treating your employees fairly. Let's be clear. Federal employees are only able to accumulate a maximum of 30 days of annual leave, not an adequate amount of time for purposes of providing care for a newborn or adopted child. Early in their careers when they're earning only 13 to 20 days per year, accumulating even 30 days is nearly impossible. Yet the early years of one's career usually coincide with the time that they decide to have children. And so it's the young, new employees who have not accumulated a great deal of time, who, in many instances, are either giving birth or adopting children. So if we're going to be able to recruit, we have to try and make sure that we can attract. We also need to be family friendly. Not only do we need this bill, but in reality, we really need childcare centers in all of our agencies. We need daycare programs so that people who have to work can know that there is the adequacy of opportunity to care for their children. So providing this legislation the opportunity to live, providing individuals who are bearing children or adopting children the time that they need to bond with a newborn or to bond with an adopted child I think is not only a rational, sensible approach but I also want to extend commendations again to my colleague from New York, Representative Carol Maloney, who has led the fight on this issue for such a long time. And it is as a result of her tremendous efforts and the great work of our staffs that we are here this afternoon preparing to move another step towards making sure that we have the kind of workforce that our Federal Government needs. You can't lead where you don't go. And you can't teach what you don't know.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time and urge passage of this amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I urge passage of this legislation and yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, while the manager's amendment being offered does not make any substantive legislative changes to the bill's underlying purpose, it does make in order several minor technical changes that are designed to streamline the bill's language so that the House-passed bill will mirror language currently being considered in the Senate. Most of these changes involve drafting edits and modifications through the bill's layout and structure. All of these changes are technical in nature. However, they are important to ensuring the swift passage of the measure. The manager's amendment also strikes section 5 of H.R. 5781. This section of the bill entitled ``Study'' originally directed the Government Accountability Office to study and submit to Congress a written report of the feasibility and desirability of offering an insurance benefit to Federal employees not to include parental leave that would provide wage replacement during periods related to a serious health condition. I am asking that this language be removed from the bill since GAO, at my request, has already agreed to perform a study that will analyze disability insurance benefits that are currently being offered by States, local governments and the private sector. I ask that a copy of the GAO acceptance letter regarding the disability insurance benefit study be included in the Record. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, the amendment at the desk would apply an effective date to all provisions of the bill. H.R. 5781, as reported out of committee, provided for two provisions of the act to go into effect 6 months from the date of enactment of the act. All we're asking for in the manager's amendment is that the same effective date be applied to the remaining section of the bill, which speaks specifically to extending paid parental leave to those that work at the Library of Congress or the Government Accountability Office. While the amendment I am offering this afternoon does nothing to change these aspects of the bill, it does strengthen the measure by clarifying and streamlining certain provisions of the bill. Therefore, I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this simple amendment. Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC, June 10, 2008. Hon. Danny K. Davis, Chairman, Subcommittee on Fereral Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives. Dear Mr. Chairman: We received your letter dated June 2, 2008, requesting that the Government Accountability Office review the feasibility and desirability of providing an insurance benefit to federal employees which would provide partial or total wage replacement. GAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope of its authority. To fully respond to your request, GAO plans to initiate work on this project in about five months when it is expected that staff with the required skills will be available. Your request has been assigned to Ms. Cynthia M. Fagnoni, Managing Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security. Ms. Fagnoni or a member of her team will contact Ms. Lori Hayman to discuss the request and options for helping you meet your needs. As applicable, we will also be in contact with the cognizant Inspector General's office to ensure that we are not duplicating efforts. If an issue arises during this coordination, we will consult with you regarding its resolution. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Fagnoni at 202-512-7202 or Ms. Elizabeth Johnston, Assistant Director, Congressional Relations, on my staff at 202-512-6345. Sincerely yours, Ralph Dawn, Managing Director, Congressional Relations. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I agree that we routinely ask the Government Accountability Office to make studies, to provide information, to give us the kind of information that we need, sometimes in much time, to make the most rational, logical and adequate decisions. We simply ask in the legislation or indicate in the legislation that we've already asked them to do that and they have already agreed, and that's why we asked that the letter be included indicating their agreement.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Well, if you would like, I can tell you here is what the response from the GAO is. ``We received your letter dated June 2, 2008, requesting that the Government Accountability Office review the feasibility and desirability of providing an insurance benefit to Federal employees which would provide partial or total wage replacement.'' ``GAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope of its authority.''

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1275, a resolution which honors the life of the late Timothy John Russert Jr. H. Res. 1275 was sponsored by a member of the Oversight committee, Representative Brian Higgins of New York and introduced yesterday with 89 original cosponsors. I would like to thank the House Leadership, Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis for their support in bringing this measure to the floor in such a timely manner. I also wish to thank Edward Leong, senior counsel with House Legislative Counsel's office for his efforts in drafting a very fine resolution. Such cooperation, support and dedication to excellence are truly a fitting tribute to Timothy Russert. I think the Washington Post said it best. In the June 14, 2008 edition, on the front of the Style section, the caption under Tim Russert's photo read, ``The ``Meet the Press'' moderator during a taping of his show last year. He got to do what he most wanted to do, and the news business was better for it.'' I couldn't agree more. He was on top of his game as the NBC News Washington bureau chief and moderator of ``Meet the Press.'' In between ball games, cheering and supporting those Buffalo Bills, going to Mass, writing books about the wisdom of our fathers, hanging out with his son, Luke, and checking in on his father Big Russ, he did what he loved best--being an award wining political analyst. Madam Speaker, Timothy John Russert, Jr's sudden death, has left a huge void on the political landscape. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family and friends. I commend my colleague Representative Higgins for sponsoring this condolence measure and I urge its swift passage.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I have one additional comment.