Bill Would Provide Federal Employees Time to Care for Children, Family Members

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in support of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, which passed the House of Representatives today as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act was introduced by New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney. This legislation would, for the first time, grant federal employees 12 weeks of paid family medical leave:

"Federal employees work every single day to ensure that our communities are safe and healthy. For their commitment and tireless service to the nation, they deserve the ability to keep their families strong. This legislation allows federal workers to take time off from work to care for a newborn child or a sick loved one without sacrificing the pay they need to sustain their families. These are freedoms every worker should enjoy. This bill will raise the bar for other employers, including in the private sector, creating a pathway to give more working families the level playing field they deserve.”