Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget issued a Statement of Administration Policy in support of H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), would extend four weeks of paid leave to federal employees caring for a newly born, adopted, or fostered child.
NFFE has been a strong advocate of obtaining paid parental leave for expecting federal employees, and will continue to fight for this benefit as it moves through Congress. The release read as follows:
“The Administration supports the goal of H.R. 626, which would provide Federal employees with access to paid leave upon the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.
Being able to spend time at home with a new child is a critical part of building a strong family. The initial bonding between parents and their new child is essential to healthy child development and providing a firm foundation for the child’s success in life. Measures that support these relationships strengthen our families, our communities, and our nation. The Federal government should reflect its commitment to these core values by helping Federal employees to care for their families as well as serve the public. Providing paid parental leave has been successfully employed by a number of private-sector employers, and can help to make job opportunities accessible to more workers.
The Administration is currently reviewing existing Federal leave policies to determine the extent of their gaps and limitations. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress to refine the details of this legislation to make sure it meets the needs of Federal agencies and employees, as well as their families.”