I am in Washington in a room full of America's elected leaders. They make Capitol Hill their office and the laws of the land their work. Among them, moms and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers.

Working Mother has named them the Best of Congress. They are leaders in keeping family-friendly policies on the front burner and understand that even their staffers are people with lives, who sometimes need a break from the pace of this Capital City–and maybe beyond the Beltway.

One of our Most Powerful Moms in Congress is also a Best of Congress awardee: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She told us about the obvious challenge of having three children and a seat representing Florida. In her home, she and her husband know that weekdays are beyond 9 to 5. The Capitol demands can be overwhelming but there is an expectation that she will be home on a weekend. But recently that did not happen and her husband let her know that he was not pleased. Her daughter jumped in and defended mom's schedule saying, "Don't you know she's making life better for everyone!" So Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz said she is proud that her daughter gets it and says it's the working mom life that pushed her to work on legislation that focuses on children and families.

Others tell similar stories, either as women or as men with working moms on their staffs, working wives and daughters with children. 

When fate threw her into the spotlight, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from New York's Long Island, was a working mom nurse. That was 14 years ago.  She believes in child care support, lactation programs and education.

California's Rep. Linda Sanchez (another MPM in Congress) told the audience that the working-mom life is hers now with a 16-month-old toddler.  She knows the juggle and wants to make sure that the law supports moms who are hourly workers and part timers.  A founder of the Labor and Working Families caucus–helping moms with child care subsidies and time off–she is also a co-sponsor of the Healthy Families Act, which calls for 7 job-protected paid sick days.

There are men leading the charge too.  With a sense of humor and self-deprecation, Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) told us his widowed mother worked to support six sons. Now he and his wife share the load with two young daughters. His wife is a lawyer and local TV news anchor, he told his colleagues, as others gathered to cheer on the honorees and support the work they do.

Others like Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D-MD) talked about his staff including his working-mom Chief of Staff who received 3 months paid maternity leave. When the demands of the office required her and other staffers to come together, the babies and their strollers were at the table. He is sponsoring legislation that will tax breaks for child care costs, push businesses to increase on- site child care and help students choose child care as a profession.

Many bills are on the table–including an expansive Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). It's up to members and senators from both sides of the aisle to push them through!