H1N1 Highlights Need For Mandatory Paid Sick Days, Says Democrat DeLauro

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) urged Congress Tuesday to consider legislation that would mandate paid sick leave for employees with the H1N1 virus.

“Paid sick days have always been a good and common sense idea, but in light of the recent H1N1 epidemic it has also become a necessary one,” DeLauro said while testifying to the Senate Health, Education and Labor Pensions Committee.

According to the Department of Labor and Statistics, only one in four low wage workers have access to paid sick days. These employees often work jobs that require frequent contact with the public. Adding to the problem is the fact that many workers go into work when sick in order to maintain the income they need.

“This isn’t just a workers’ rights issue, it’s a public health emergency,” said Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). “Families should not have to choose between staying healthy and making ends meet.”

DeLauro worked with the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) earlier this year to push the Healthy Families Act, a bill that would mandate employers to guarantee employees one hour off for every 30 hours worked, allowing employees to earn up to seven sick days a year. Such a bill is necessary now, said DeLauro.

HELP Committee Ranking member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said legislation that forced employers to provide paid sick days would be detrimental to small businesses that are already struggling to retain employees during economic hardships.

“Many employers are not able to maintain current payrolls, which is evidenced by the rise in unemployment,” Enzi said. “If this bill is enacted, employers will adjust somewhere either by reducing current healthcare... or by downsizing their number of employees.”

Many Republicans shared similar concerns when DeLauro and Kennedy urged passage of the bill in May. Dodd argued that given the current spread of H1N1, the bill is necessary now.

“If paid sick leave had been a reality when this pandemic began, we would be in better shape,” Dodd said. “I want it in place immediately to help parents and workers.”

Closer to Cuban Travel

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

American's restrictions for travel to Cuba aren't just coming from the Castro brothers according to members of the Cuba Working Group Tuesday. They urged for further changes in the United States’ Cuba policy. Although President Barack Obama lifted all restrictions on travel and financial support by Cuban-Americans to family in Cuba last month, legislators say a change in the travel ban for all Americans to Cuba requires congressional action.

U.S. Rep. and member of the Cuba Working Group Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) said, “How do we bring about change? Only by engaging with the Cuban government and Cuban society will we have the platform or leverage to seriously address our concerns without having those concerns brushed aside and ignored.”

DeLauro said support in the congress reflects the support nationwide behind travel for all Americans to Cuba. U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-MA) said that the status quo has failed. On the topic of Americans traveling to and being in Cuba, he does recognize that, “When we are there, when we’re present, it is more difficult for the Cuban government to be oppressive.”

McGovern commented that President Obama has made a “baby step” by lifting the travel ban for Americans with family members in Cuba but he needs to do more and more needs to be done to let him know there is Congressional support for further changes to the U.S.-Cuba Policy.

“We need a policy that reflects the values of the American people and I think that the time has come to do something dramatically different," he said.