Washington - Today, Rebia Mixon Clay, a homecare worker from Chicago, testified before the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections about the need for Congress to enact family-friendly policies that make sound economic sense not only in good times, but during recessionary times as well. Clay is a member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and currently serves on the Executive Board of her local, SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana.

Clay told the Subcommittee, chaired by California Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, that although she is paid for only eight hours of work, taking care of her brother with cerebral palsy is a fulltime job. If she had access to paid time off, she could finish her college degree or visit the doctor. She also reminded the Committee that there are millions of hardworking Americans like her across the county. Our stories are different but our hope is the same - that you help give us change that works. We cannot fix everything overnight but we can't give up," said Clay.

Rebia Mixon Clay's full testimony is below:

"Thank you very much for having me here today.

"'I am a home care worker. The job of a home care worker is to take care of someone's mother, brother, husband or wife, aunt or grandfather when they cannot take care of themselves. I live in Chicago, where I was born and raised, and, my client is one of greatest people God has ever created. He is unique, he is full of love and laugher and every day he makes this world a greater place. He is my brother.

"Caesar was born 43 years ago with cerebral palsy and also suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. My mother would never give up on him, and took care him until she died in 1999. My brothers and sisters tried taking care of him, but they were raising their families. My children were grown by then, so I left my job as a property manager and got qualified to be a home care worker. It was a big pay cut, but if I hadn't done that, he would be sent to an institution, and that just can't happen.

'My employer, the state of Illinois, only pays me for eight hours of work, but it is more than a full time job. Caesar cannot dress himself, though he tries, and picks out some of the strangest outfits. He cannot clean himself, use the restroom on his own, or do many of the every day things most of us don't even think twice about. I thank God that the state provides so much help for my brother but I could use some help for myself. I, like hundreds of other caregivers in Illinois, have no sick days and no paid time off - of any kind.

"Three years ago, my husband became very sick. He passed away last April, and before that, he needed a lot of care. I had to care for him and my brother at the same time. I couldn't afford to take any unpaid time off to focus on my husband, because the three of us were surviving only on my income.

"I know this hearing is about good family policies but everything comes back to money, something nobody seems to have enough of these days. I recently became a member of the Service Employees International Union and now make $9.85 an hour, a $1.50 increase from before the union, but it doesn't go very far. I get paid twice a month, one check goes to the rent and the rest, $926, must go to everything else. After $200 for the electricity, $500 for gas and now $160 for phone and cable TV since we cannot use antennas anymore. I constantly have to take from Peter to pay Paul, and had to file for bankruptcy because I just could not pay all my household and medical bills. I recently received notice that the state may cut my hours because of budget cuts. If that happened, I don't know how I would manage.

"My children help me financially whenever they can, but they have children of their own, and now money is tighter than ever. My youngest son recently lost his job, laid off because of the economy. He stays with me off and on. He helps watch Ceasar during the day, and looks for work when he can. Nobody in my family is rich, but whenever someone needs something extra we all put our pennies together as best we can.

"I love my brother and I am inspired by him every day. But I would like to go to visit my dentist, who I haven't seen in 13 years. I would like to get a real pair of glasses. I would like to be able to afford a mammogram. I would like to know that if I became seriously ill I could take time away from my job having our utilities cut off, or without losing my home, and not have to worry that my brother would end up in an institution. My dream is to go back to college and finish my degree, and if I had personal days, that would make it much easier for me to do that.

"I came here today because I wanted to share my story with you. There are people like me in every town across this country, people who are working hard and doing their best to provide for their families. Our stories are different but our hope is the same - that you help give us change that works. We cannot fix everything overnight but we can't give up. I just hope I have helped you find the courage and desire to make that difference. God bless you and God bless your work."

"

###