Updated May 17, 2013
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the U.S. Department of Labor released a new report about the landmark bill’s use and impact. Passed in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, the FMLA allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for family and medical leave, including caring for a newborn or a seriously ill child, spouse, or parent. A survey in the Department of Labor report shows that 91 percent of employers say that complying with FMLA has either a positive effect or no noticeable effect on business operations, and 90 percent of workers say they return to their employer after taking FMLA leave, thus demonstrating limited risks to employers who might otherwise fear investing in an employee likely to take leave.
Passed after seven years of hard work by AAUW staff and the AAUW Action Fund Capitol Hill Lobby Corps, the Family and Medical Leave Act is a shining example of what AAUW lobbying efforts can help accomplish. Yet despite the FMLA and a patchwork of state laws and employer-based benefits — many of which AAUW members helped to pass — family and personal sick leave remain elusive to many working Americans. AAUW will continue to speak up for women and families and work with Congress and the White House to advance timely improvements to the FMLA.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for February 8, 2013.
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Labor provided new guidance that clarifies when a parent of a child with disabilities or a serious health condition can take leave from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act. The new interpretation acknowledges that children may develop severe health problems after they are 18 years old and, as such, clarifies that parents may be able to take leave from work even if their child is over the age of 18.
AAUW believes that creating a work environment that helps employees balance the responsibilities of work and family is smart for businesses and good public policy. AAUW is committed to “greater availability of and access to benefits and policies that create a family-friendly workplace environment," which are critical to women's "equitable access and advancement in employment."
- from AAUW's Washington Update for January 18, 2013.
A poll by Lifeway Research revealed that 63 percent of American believes businesses should be legally required to provide contraceptive coverage without a co-pay, even if it conflicts with the owners’ religious beliefs. When asked specifically about religious schools, charities, and hospitals, including those affiliated with the Catholic tradition, 53 percent of respondents said the businesses should provide coverage of contraception without a co-pay. The Affordable Care Act requires most employers, including some religious schools and hospitals, to provide such coverage.
AAUW supports the right of every woman to safe, accessible, affordable, and comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for December 7, 2012.
A new Kaiser Permanente Study reveals that the majority of people with high-deductible health plans surveyed in California do not know that their deductibles do not apply to all physician visits. This lack of knowledge can discourage them at times from seeking preventive care, the study’s authors said. The survey found that fewer than one in five respondents knew they could get preventive care services at little or no cost, despite the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that most health plans provide such services free of charge.
AAUW supports the right of every person to quality, affordable health care, and encourages everyone to understand what services their insurance plan covers. To learn about what preventive services the Affordable Care Act covers, please visit healthcare.gov/prevention.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for December 7, 2012.
Last night, the Obama administration granted an extension to states to decide whether they will create their own health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. Originally, states had to make the decision by today, November 16. States now have until December 14 to declare their intention to establish their own exchange. States that do not indicate their intention to set up their own exchange by that date will have until February 15 to decide whether to partner with the federal government to create an exchange or relinquish the creation and control of their exchange to the government. As of Friday afternoon, only six states had not yet indicated whether they would create their own exchanges. It is estimated that 9 million people will access health insurance through an exchange when they begin running in 2014 and that the number will rise to 26 million by 2018.
AAUW believes everyone is entitled to health care that is high-quality, affordable, and easily accessible. Health care security is intrinsically tied to economic security, and this relationship is particularly true for women, who earn less than men on average and are therefore less able to afford insurance or care.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for November 16, 2012.
In 2008, Washington D.C. passed the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act, requiring most employers to provide paid sick leave for employees. The law also requires a yearly assessment to evaluate the impact, effectiveness, and enforcement of the law. An assessment has yet to take place, however, and advocates in the District are continuing to push for one. This month, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research released its own recommendations for the evaluation of the law. The auditor’s office has said that a review will be planned for some time in fiscal year 2013. Washington D.C. became the second city, after San Francisco, to enact paid sick days for employees.
AAUW firmly believes in allowing all employees access to paid sick days. Learn more about paid sick days and discover how you can become an activist with AAUW’s Paid Sick Days Resource Kit.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 21, 2012.
A recent White House decision disqualifies young undocumented immigrants from receiving health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Many of the young, undocumented immigrants being denied health benefits are “DREAMers”: individuals allowed to stay in the United States as part of President Obama’s Deferred Action program as long they were brought into the country before the age of 16 and meet certain requirements. The administration says that the Affordable Care Act was never meant to provide federally funded health care benefits to undocumented immigrants; however, many in the immigrant community say they are angered and perplexed. The decision also limits these individuals’ ability to access reproductive health care.
AAUW's 2011-2013 Public Policy Program advocates for increased access to quality affordable health care. This recent White House decision underscores the need for Congress to pass the DREAM Act and provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants so they receive the health benefits they need and fully contribute to our nation.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 21, 2012.
The Census data released Wednesday also showed that for the first time since 2007, the number of uninsured Americans has dropped. Between 2010 and 2011, 1.3 million more people have become insured, thanks in large part to the provision in the Affordable Care Act allowing children to stay on their parent’s insurance plans until age 26. Additionally, a rise in Medicare coverage (as baby boomers age) and Medicaid coverage (as the economic downturn persists) partially accounts for the rise in insured Americans.
AAUW believes that everyone is entitled to health care that is high-quality, affordable, and easily accessible. AAUW strongly supports the provision in the Affordable Care Act which allows children to stay on their parent’s insurance plan.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 14, 2012.
In 2011, the Seattle City Council became the third city in the United States to guarantee paid sick days to workers. As of September 1, 2012, nearly 190,000 workers in the city can now earn paid sick days to help take care of their health and that of their families. So far, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and the state of Connecticut are the only locations to offer workers this right. Support to ensure all workers have access to paid sick days is growing across the country: New York City has proposed a bill requiring most employers to provide at least five days of paid sick leave a year, and paid sick days will be a ballot initiative in Orange County, Florida, in November.
AAUW firmly believes in allowing all employees access to paid sick days. AAUW strongly supports a work environment that allows employees to balance the responsibilities of work and family, which is critical to women's equitable access and advancement in employment. Learn more about paid sick days and discover how you can become an activist with AAUW’s Paid Sick Days Resource Kit.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for September 7, 2012.
A new bill in New York will allow large universities to begin providing their own health insurance, which is expected to lower the cost for students. This new pilot program will begin at Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, and the University of Rochester before spreading to more schools in the state. Many universities require students to have health insurance, but that can be a high burden for students who do not or cannot stay on their parents’ health insurance. Previously, an institution would have been required to become a licensed insurance provider or buy a policy, both of which could cause students to pay even more to receive insurance through the school.
AAUW supports institutions of higher education providing students with affordable health care. AAUW believes that everyone is entitled to health care that is high-quality, affordable, and easily accessible.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for August 24, 2012.