Michelle Obama Calls On Political Leaders To Focus On Work, Family Issues

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 24 Jun 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Michelle Obama, wife of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), on Friday during a luncheon held by the National Partnership for Women and Families called on political leaders to focus on issues important to working families, including expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act, CQ HealthBeat reports.

Obama, who made a special appearance at the luncheon honoring Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), said, "We can work together to make a mom- and family-friendly nation." She added, "It's time for the leaders of this country not only to champion this cause but to fight for these issues every single day."

In his remarks, Patrick focused on the work still needed to make the country more fair. "There are reasons to be hopeful in this election season that the federal government will become a partner again in that struggle," he said, adding, "But not simply because of a change in policy, as important as that is; it will take a change in politics, in my view."

National Partnership for Women & Families President Debra Ness emphasized the importance of a comprehensive health care overhaul and commended the recent passage of a bill (PL 103-3) that expands FMLA to the families of wounded military personnel. The expansion allows six months of job-protected leave for spouses to care for wounded soldiers (Wychoff, CQ HealthBeat, 6/20).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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