Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 Passed By Washington House of Representatives

Dear Friend, I wanted to take some time to tell you about a bill I’ve worked on in past Congresses and that recently passed in the House and is close to my heart. Two and a half years ago, when I had my daughter Grace, I became the first member of Congress to give birth twice while in serving in office. With two children — Cole, who just turned 6 and has special needs, and Grace, who is 2 — I am similar to the millions of other working moms in this country who understand firsthand how difficult it is to balance the demands of a job with the obligations of a family. The balance isn’t easy — it never is — but current law makes it way too hard. It’s time for our laws to enter the 21st century. That’s why I’m proud to have helped pass the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 in the House of Representatives last week — a bill that will finally give those in the private sector the same freedom and flexibility those in the public sector have had for years. It will amend the Fair Labor Standards Act so private sector employers can provide time off instead of overtime compensation if that’s what the employee prefers. It will allow single moms who may be hourly bookkeepers to be at her sons’ baseball games instead of getting paid time and a half. It will make sure working parents aren’t forced to miss their kids’ school plays, their doctors’ appointments and their classroom birthday celebrations. It gives working parents the flexibility to choose. And in today’s fast-paced world, nothing is more invaluable than the power of choice. Click the image to see me speak on the House Floor on behalf of the bill The Working Families Flexibility Act is a 21st-century law that serves a 21st-century workforce. Most of our laws and regulations are so outdated they don’t account for the changes we’ve seen in the labor market — and it’s time we modernize them. I look forward to passing more legislation that can help American families. Warm regards, Cathy P.S. For daily updates, subscribe to my Facebook and Twitter news feeds.