MAZIE K. HIRONO

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in celebration of the 20^th anniversary of President Clinton’s signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act:

“When my family immigrated to this country, my mother worked odd jobs to support us. Like many workers in that era, she worried that if she ever got sick, she could lose her job and her ability to provide for our family. Fortunately, the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act gave millions of workers job security and protections my mother lacked back then. Now Hawaii workers can recover from an illness or care for a sick child or elderly parent without fear of being fired. But the Family and Medical Leave Act was just a start. Even today, 40 percent of private sector workers are unable to take a single paid sick day for recovery. In the Senate, I will continue fighting to expand earned paid medical and family leave for American workers.”