this amendment, mo dam chair, will -- madam chair, will require the office of personnel management to consider the needs of some of our lower level employees. this amendment would not require any additional funding. it merely requires the office to consider the impact that this -- that increasing the number of weeks will have on some of our lower level employees. now, i'd like to introduce a term that i'm not exceedingly pleased with. it is called poverty spell. a poverty spell. a poverty spell is defined as entering poverty for at least two months. 25% of all poverty spells begin with the birth of a child. 25%. i would also note that 78% of the persons who are eligible for f.m.a., this leave that we've been discussing today, do not take it because they cannot afford to lose a paycheck. no one should go into poverty because of the birth of a child if we can prevent it. this bill will help many of our lower level employees avoid a poverty spell. ly reserve the balance of my time. conscious -- i will reserve the balance of my time. the chair: for what purpose does the gentleman from cal