(Reuters) — During his weekly address, U.S. President Barack Obama pad tribute to moms ahead of Mother’s Day and urges congress to support legislation he said would support working mothers including paid maternity leave, sick leave and a increase in the minimum wage.
The president’s address began on a personal note.
“I’m going to take a little extra time to say thank you to Michelle for the remarkable way she does the most important job: being a mom,” Obama said.
First Lady Michelle Obama isn’t the only person the persident will be honoring this weekend.
“I’m going to give extra thanks to my mother-in-law for the role model she’s always been to Michelle…. I am incredibly lucky to have women who help me raise, love, and look after our girls,” he said.
The president went on to add that while flowers are “always a good idea,” he said more lasting gestures were needed.
He called on Congress, the body passed legislation to create the Mother’s Day holiday over 100 years ago to move forward on several of his administration’s initiatives.
“If Congress can make a holiday, surely they can back it up with the things that give it meaning…That includes paid maternity and paternity leave, sick leave, accommodations for workers who are pregnant, good health care, affordable child care, flexibility at work, equal pay, and a decent minimum wage. We ask our mothers to do more than their fair share of just about everything. Making sure they’re treated fairly is the least we can do,” Obama said.
With just months remaining in his final term in office, Obama is eager to shore up several of the legislative initiatives his administration has spearheaded.
