We should all be keeping our eyes and ears open for potential attacks on the FMLA act. FMLA is the only law in this country that ensures women can take the time off for having a baby, dealing with family crisis or helping aging parents.

The following quote, taken from a astatement by Debra Ness, president of National Partnership for Women and Families will fill you in on the details of why we should be concerned:

The Department of Labor released a report today reviewing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The report is based on 15,000 comments from individuals and corporations, including responses submitted by members of the National Partnership and 90 partner organizations.

Overall, the report reaffirms what more than 60 million Americans know firsthand: The FMLA is a law we need, a law that works well, and a law that benefits both families and businesses.

The report also includes comments from corporations that claim they are experiencing problems administering certain provisions of the FMLA. However, the Department did not conduct an objective, scientific study on the use of the FMLA - it simply invited comment.

We are concerned that the Department will follow this report with regulations designed to roll back FMLA protections. There is simply no justification for doing so.

Lawmakers should be looking to provide paid family and medical leave - as California has been doing for three years now and Washington state is preparing to do - and to adopt the next generation of work/family policies including federal legislation guaranteeing workers paid sick days.

The FMLA has been law for 14 years, and families, businesses and the nation are better off because of it. We urge the Bush Administration to make good on its family-friendly rhetoric by helping us move forward, rather than seeking to undo gains of the past.