The National Partnership for Women & Families applauds Chairman Dodd for his career-long
dedication to improving the lives of women and children. We thank him for convening these
hearings to point the way for future action on these vital issues.

Children are our nation’s future. Safeguarding their health and enhancing their ability to learn
must be a top priority. America’s children will only thrive if the people who care for them the
most — their parents and guardians — can take the time away from work to look after them when they are sick. Family-friendly workplace policies that provide paid sick days and paid family leave are crucial to the health and well-being of America’s children.

Let’s face it — children get sick. Children face both short-term, common illnesses and long-term serious health conditions; in both cases, they need their parents with them to get better faster. Younger children in particular need parental care and supervision when they fall ill, and sick children of all ages need parents to administer medicine and take them to medical appointments. More »