A bipartisan group of House members reintroduced last week legislation to expand federal paid leave to include 12 weeks of family and medical leave. The bill was introduced by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) and is co-sponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). Similar legislation was introduced in 2021 and 2023.
Under current law, federal employees are eligible for paid parental leave, but family and medical leave continues to be unpaid.
Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act
If passed, the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act (HR 9261) would guarantee 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal employees in all instances covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Specifically, the bill guarantees 12 weeks of paid leave in the following cases:
- Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the employee’s position; and
- In order to care for the spouse, child, or parent of the employee, if such spouse, child, or parent has a serious health condition;
- In order to care for the employee or a family member who is a survivor of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking;
- Because of any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the spouse, child, or parent of the employee is on covered active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty) in the Armed Forces.
“Unpaid leave may protect a job on paper, but for too many working families, it is not leave they can actually afford to take,” said co-sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).”When a federal employee faces a serious illness or needs to care for a loved one, the choice should not be between earning a paycheck and being present for their family. Without paid leave, workers can be pushed out of careers they have spent years building, agencies lose experienced public servants, and taxpayers lose operational expertise that cannot be easily replaced. Paid family and medical leave is a matter of fairness for federal workers and their families—and smart policy for a government that relies on experienced public servants to deliver for the American people.”
Following the enactment of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act in 2019, federal employees now receive paid parental leave, but family and medical leave continues to be unpaid. Studies have shown that providing paid leave for federal employees would save the government at least $50 million annually in turnover and replacement costs. With federal agencies struggling to recruit and retain young talent, family-friendly policies are necessary to maintain a robust workforce. Just six percent of the federal workforce is under the age of 30, while roughly 40 percent of the workforce is eligible to retire within the next three years.
Federal Employee Groups Support
“NTEU is proud to endorse the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act. This much needed legislation will allow federal workers to take the leave they need, when they need it, without worrying about losing a paycheck,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. “We appreciate the work Reps. Beyer, Fitzpatrick, and Houlahan have done to craft this legislation in a way that it puts the needs of working people and their families first.”
The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act is also supported by the American Association of University Women (AAUW); American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); A Better Balance; Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action); Caring Across Generations; Coalition on Human Needs; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Equal Rights Advocates; Futures Without Violence; Jewish Women International; MomsRising; National Alliance for Caregiving; National Council of Jewish Women; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Education Association (NEA); National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE); National Partnership for Women and Families; National Women’s Law Center Action Fund; Paid Leave for All; Reproductive Freedom for All; and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
“NTEU is proud to endorse the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act. This much needed legislation will allow federal workers to take the leave they need, when they need it, without worrying about losing a paycheck,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. “We appreciate the work Reps. Beyer, Fitzpatrick, and Houlahan have done to craft this legislation in a way that it puts the needs of working people and their families first.”
“Our federal workforce has faced unprecedented challenges to their livelihood under this administration over the past year, yet they have continued to serve with dedication,” said Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Federal workers should not have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for themselves and their families. They deserve dignity and respect in their roles as employees, as family members, and as people. The ability to take paid time off to meet caregiving responsibilities or protect their health and safety should not be an additional burden federal workers have to face now or in the future. We stand in support of Reps. Beyer, Houlahan, and Fitzpatrick and call for the passage of the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act to build on the protections for federal workers who are new parents to cover other forms of caregiving, health and safety needs – a critical next step toward providing paid leave for all.”
Full text of the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act is available here (PDF)