<DIV> <DIV>WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) reintroduced legislation to help American working families balance the responsibilities of raising a family with the demands of work. </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>“The Balancing Act,” H.R. 1589, would improve the lives of working families by providing paid leave for parents to care for newborns, attend school events and take care of family emergencies; improving the quality and availability of child care, in-school nutrition, and afterschool assistance; funding for voluntary universal preschool; and assisting employers in establishing a family-friendly workplace. Rep. Woolsey reintroduced the bill in the 109th Congress with 41 original co-sponsors. </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>“Helping working parents balance their responsibilities to their employer and their children requires a comprehensive plan and, this is exactly what my legislation would do,” said Woolsey. “When parents have the confidence of knowing their family’s needs are being met, they can be much more productive on the job.” </DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>"Woolsey's 'Balancing Act' would help all families facing challenges as they strive to pursue their careers while nurturing their families," said Linda Meric, Director of 9to5: National Association of Working Women. "Especially for families in the bottom third of the economy, economic pressures and lack of care giving resources intensify the ordinary challenges of keeping a job and raising a family to the level of a daily crisis."</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>“Nothing could be more pro-family than ‘The Balancing Act,’” said Rep. Woolsey. “The legislation addresses the problems that families struggle with everyday. And, helping a family balance their daily lives with their checkbook does more towards keeping families and communities together than any public relations campaign from the White House.”</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The original co-sponsors of the Woolsey legislation are: U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR), Corrine Brown (FL), Sherrod Brown (OH), Lois Capps (CA), Julia Carson (IN), Danny Davis (IL), Susan Davis (CA), Rosa DeLauro (CT), Lloyd Doggett (TX), Sam Farr (CA), Bob Filner (CA), Raul Grijalva (AZ) Ruben Hinojosa (TX), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL), Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH), Dale Kildee (MI), Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI), Dennis Kucinich (OH), Tom Lantos (CA), Barbara Lee (CA), John Lewis (GA), Carolyn McCarthy (NY), Jim McDermott (WA), Cynthia McKinney (GA), Carolyn Maloney (NY), Doris Matsui (CA), Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA), George Miller (CA), Major Owens (NY), Donald Payne (NJ), Nancy Pelosi (CA), Bobby Rush (IL), Linda Sanchez (CA), Bernie Sanders (VT), Hilda Solis (CA), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL), Diane Watson (CA), Henry Waxman (CA), Robert Wexler (FL) and delegate Donna Christensen (VI).<BR></DIV></DIV>