Legislation: Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act

Currently, federal employees are only eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act. Many families are unable to take advantage of this benefit, because they simply cannot afford to go without pay for any length of time. Saving up enough sick and vacation days to receive pay during that time is difficult or even impossible many workers.

Since 2000, I have introduced the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, which would respond to the needs of tens of thousands of working families by providing federal employees with 4 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child during the 12 weeks of unpaid leave to which they are currently entitled. On June 4, 2009, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009, by a bipartisan vote of 258-154. I will continue to push for family-friendly policies.