More good news for federal workers.
House Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on Jan. 28 introduced H.R. 564, the “Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Workers Act,” to give federal workers 12 weeks of paid leave to care for an ill family member, their own medical condition, or for circumstances that arise when the employee or a family member is detailed for covered duty in the armed forces.
Currently, federal workers may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for these reasons under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The bill would give federal workers paid leave for these reasons.
“Our frontline heroes risking their lives during this pandemic shouldn’t be forced to choose between caring for themselves or sick family members and putting food on the table,” said Chairwoman Maloney. “I’ve fought for two decades to ensure that our federal workers have the resources they need to take care of themselves and their families while serving our country. Today’s legislation is an important step to making decades of hard work a reality. Protecting federal workers should be a bipartisan issue, and I urge all my colleagues to stand with federal workers and support this legislation.”
AFGE applauds Chairwoman Maloney for introducing the bill, which would help improve the government’s ability to recruit and retain qualified workers.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of providing federal workers with paid leave for dependent care needs,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley. “No federal worker should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a sick loved one. The federal government is supposed to be a model employer and should lead by example.”
Several members of Congress cosponsored the bill: House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Committee on Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith, Committee on Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus Jackie Speier, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Rep. Don Beyer, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
AFGE thanks the lawmakers who have cosponsored this critical legislation. We look forward to working with Congress to get this new benefit introduced in the Senate by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and passed into law as quickly as possible.
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