Family, Working Moms' Groups Support Crapo

Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo's record of supporting families and family-friendly work practices has garnered a national award. Crapo is one of 29 Members of Congress receiving the "Best of Congress Award" from Working Mothers Media and Corporate Voices for Working Families. In announcing the awards, the partnership said that Crapo and other recipients "practice what they preach-employing family-friendly policies in their own offices."

Crapo is one of three Republican Senators honored with the groups' Best of Congress Award, which will be presented on September 22nd in Washington, D.C. In all, ten Senators were honored. A full list of the recipients is being listed in the Working Mother magazine and at http://www.workingmother.com/BestCompanies/2010/07/2010-best-of-congress-member-profiles-republicans

"As I developed working policies for my office, I wanted to make sure that families and quality of life issues received fair attention and that I set a good example," Crapo said. "There are many workplaces that could improve in these areas with just a few modifications, and both employer and employee would benefit through more productive and happier workers."

Corporate Voice for Working Families describes itself as the "leading national business membership organization representing the private sector on public and corporate policy issues involving working families." The nonprofit, nonpartisan group strives to "improve the lives of working families by developing and advancing innovative policies that reflect collaboration among the private sector, government and other stakeholders." The group's membership includes 50 partner companies that employ more than four million individuals throughout all 50 states.

Working Mother Magazine reaches two million readers and notes that it is the "only national magazine for career-committed mothers." The group says that among its missions are to "serve as a champion of culture change."

In honoring Crapo, the partnership noted: "Crapo has used his strong background and interest in finance to help working families. As a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, he has made significant contributions to expanding homeownership. He voted in favor of the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act, which was signed into law last year and provides for additional temporary emergency unemployment compensation to help families weather the economic storm.

"He also sponsored a resolution to create National Work and Family Month to recognize the importance of flexible work schedules that allow employees to spend time with their families, perform their jobs productively and keep themselves and their loved ones healthy. The resolution urged public officials and employers to work together to achieve more balance between work and family. Crapo also helped create and chaired the Senate Workplace Flexibility Study Group to break the political stalemate surrounding the policy debate on flexibility in the workplace. The group's goal is to examine the relevant data, policy models and case studies and to hear from different stakeholders to help develop consensus-based, bipartisan solutions to promote a better work/life balance for families."