Rep. Matsui Praises DOLs Clarification in the Family and Medical Leave Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 23, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Rep. Matsui Praises DOL's Clarification in the Family and Medical Leave Act
Says New Definition Will Protect More Sacramento Employees andamp; Their Families

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) praised the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division clarification to the definition of son or daughter in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), so that it applies to those who do not have a legal or biological relationship to a child, such as a grandparent or aunt and uncle, but who have assumed the responsibility of care, are granted the same parental rights under the FMLA.

I am very pleased to see the Department of Labor issue this clarification, which will help the millions of Americans who have acted in the best interest of life of a child when for some reason their parents cannot, said Congresswoman Matsui. With this new definition in place, a grandmother who cares for her grandchildren - when her own child is unable - will be able to seek family and medical leave from her employer to care for those children when they are ill. As well, an employee who is fostering a child will be able to request leave to care for that child. This clarification will aid so many families in Sacramento and across America, and provide employees with the support they need to put family first.

For more information on this new clarification, please see the Department of Labor's Administrators_Interpretation.

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