HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES : Approval of Family Leave Bill

The House gave final approval Feb. 4 to a bill requiring employers of 50 or more workers to provide unpaid annual leave of up to 12 weeks for childbirth, a newly adopted child or other serious medical circumstances involving an employee or close family member. Those on leave would continue to receive benefits and be assured of returning to the same job or a comparable one. The bill applies to federal, state and local employees as well as the private sector, but only partially covers the staff of Congress.

The legislation was passed earlier the same day by the Senate. President Clinton signed it Friday at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, making it the first legislation enacted in his presidency and fulfilling one of his major campaign issues strongly backed by women’s groups and organized labor. Clinton was pleased with the swift passage in Congress and declared that the bill signals an end to legislative gridlock in Washington.

Former President Bush twice vetoed similar family leave legislation in 1990 and again last year, saying it was an undue burden on businesses and would increase business costs.

The vote was 247 to 152 against. A yes vote was to pass the law, which goes into effect in six months.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

Family Leave Exemption Preserved

In a related vote, the House refused to fully apply the family leave measure to members of Congress. It preserved language that insulates members against lawsuits by disgruntled employees, in contrast to the treatment of other government and private sector employers, who can be sued in federal court under the new law. In place of court review of House and Senate leave policies, the bill provides for self-enforcement through in-house units.

Harris W. Fawell (R-Ill.) urged members to “vote to make it clear we will no longer exempt Congress through special privilege” from the laws they pass for constituents.

Martin Frost (D-Tex.) said the exemption from court review results from “basic separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.”

The vote was 175 to 257. A yes vote was to subject members of Congress to the full reach of the new family leave law.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

Amendment for Key Employees Rejected

The House rejected a GOP-drafted amendment to give employers more flexibility under the family and medical leave measure. The amendment would have allowed employers to deny leave to selected workers at any pay level whose absence would cause substantial economic harm to the company or pose a safety risk to co-workers. It went beyond language exempting only a company’s highest-paid workers from the law.

Sponsor Bill Goodling (R-Pa.) said, “Clearly an employer could use this exception only in cases of true circumstances which are true, dire emergencies.”

Opponent William D. Ford (D-Mich.) said the amendment would “totally destroy the availability of the basic right of the bill,” which is to help workers cope with emergencies at home.

The vote was 185 to 238. A yes vote supported the amendment.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

Motor-Voter Bill Approved

The House passed and sent to the Senate a bill requiring states to make voter registration a voluntary part of applying for a driver’s license and certain other public certificates, and to allow voter registration by mail.

The nicknamed motor-voter bill is expected to win easy passage in the Senate later this month and be signed by President Clinton. It is nearly identical to legislation vetoed by former President Bush last year.

Proponents hope that it will encourage more political participation and streamline the voter registration process. Opponents say it is an invitation to widespread election fraud, allowing registration by illegal aliens and others not entitled to vote.

Supporter Al Swift (D-Wash.) called it “scare talk” that the measure will lead to voting by non-citizens. “The language in this bill says that no aliens, legal or illegal, can vote.”

Opponent Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) said the bill “has no mandatory voter address verification,” which means anybody could “register to vote with fake addresses and walk away without fear that their actions could be discovered let alone prosecuted.”

The vote was 259 to 160 against. A yes vote was to pass the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Horn (R) x Rep. Roybal-Allard (D) x Rep. Royce (R) x Rep. Torres (D) x Rep. Tucker (D) x

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate