Halfway through the 111th congressional session, recent headlines have focused almost exclusively on health care reform. But our elected officials have made progress on important work-family legislation as well:

• The Healthy Families Act (House and Senate) has received overwhelming support. More than 125 Representative and Senators are co-sponsoring the legislation. The Act would provide a minimum amount of paid sick time to employees, so a routine illness doesn’t result in economic hardship. If passed, workers will no longer have to choose between their job and their family— ensuring economic insecurity isn’t just one flu season away.

• The FIRST Act (Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions) has 24 House co-sponsors in addition to its sponsor Rep. Lynn Woolsey. If passed, the bill would bolster existing paid leave programs – or fund new ones, like Washington’s Family Leave Insurance program. The FIRST Act helps states develop and implement paid paternal leave programs, as well as offer funding to cover care for a seriously-ill family member, injured service member or leave to recover from a worker’s own serious illness. These programs help workers during rare times of hardship, and offer benefits proven to strengthen economic security for individuals and businesses alike.

Take a moment to recognize those leaders who are putting families first by telling your elected official(s), in your own words, why their vote for working families earns your vote of confidence — and thank them for their support.

A list of sponsors and co-sponsors for both the Senate and House versions of the Healthy Families Act, as well as the FIRST Act (House only) is after the jump.