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(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO-03) has been honored by Working Mother Media and Corporate Voices for Working Families with the inaugural Best of Congress award, for improving the American quality of life through family-friendly work policies.  The award spotlights Congressman Carnahan’s congressional excellence in supporting working families through legislation and by practicing what is preached – employing family-friendly policies in his own office.

A profile of Carnahan is featured in the August/September 2008 issue of Working Mother magazine and at www.workingmother.com.

“Not only did we judge Russ Carnahan on his voting record for supporting working families, we also examined the benefits that his own employees receive like paid leave and flextime,” Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media, said. “Carnahan is stepping up voluntarily because he believes in progressive policies and acts on his beliefs in the real world managing his staff.”

“Carnahan has shown what can be accomplished through legislation and a personal commitment to policies that benefit working families,” Donna Klein, president and founder of Corporate Voices for Working Families, said. “As our nation wrestles with a host of economic and other issues involving working families, Carnahan deserves to be congratulated and recognized nationally for his leadership and support.”

Not only is Congressman Carnahan one of a small number of cosponsors of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, H.R. 3158, which provides eight weeks of paid parental leave to Federal employees, he ensures that his own staff is guaranteed the same benefits that he advocates for publicly.  Carnahan employees are provided extended time off for the birth of a child, adoption of a child, or a newly placed foster child.

In order to ensure that the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act, H.R. 1429, had the resources available to offer health and safety benefits for children and families, Congressman Carnahan successfully amended the reauthorization legislation to ensure that grantees can negotiate an enrollment level if funding does not keep pace with inflation.  Carnahan worked hard to ensure that this important provision was included in the underlying bill.  The amendment was successful on the House floor, retained in the conference report and the bill, which was signed into law by the President.

“There is no better way to create an efficient work environment than providing for the employees responsible for it,” said Congressman Carnahan.  “I appreciate the work the employees of Missouri’s Third Congressional District perform each and every day.  They are an indispensable resource available to constituents.  It is only fair they are given the same benefits, such as paid parental leave, I am pushing for in the Congress.”

Carnahan was judged on his voting record and efforts to promote legislation that supports working families.  In addition, Carnahan was asked to submit policies and practices within his own office that support working families and flexible workplace options.

Applications were reviewed by a bipartisan steering committee co-chaired by Ted Childs, Founder and Principal of Ted Childs, LLC and Jane Swift, Founder and Principal of WNP Consulting, LLC and former Governor of Massachusetts.  Also on the steering committee reviewing applications were Patricia Kempthorne, Founder and Executive Director of the Twiga Foundation and Pat Schroeder, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers and former congresswoman from Colorado.

The Best of Congress award will be presented to Congressman Carnahan at a recognition breakfast in Washington, DC on Sept. 10, at Sewell House.  Recipients of the Best of Congress award will attend, and Antonio M. Perez, CEO of Kodak, will talk about the award and issues involving working families.

Working Mother magazine has been in the forefront of the movement to improve the quality of life for working families for over 29 years and annually honors the 100 best companies whose policies create family-friendly workplaces.

About Corporate Voices for Working Families
Corporate Voices for Working Families is the leading national business membership organization representing the private sector on public policy issues involving working families.  We aim to improve the lives of working families and the competitiveness of American businesses. Web site: www.cvworkingfamilies.org.

About Working Mother Media
Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers.  Its 22-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media, which was founded in 2001. WMM includes the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), Diversity Best Practices, the WorkLife Congress, the Multicultural Women's Conference and Town Halls.  Working Mother Media's mission is to champion culture change. For more information, please visit www.workingmother.com.