Issue Position: Working Families - Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act

Issue Position

Many are surprised to learn that the federal government does not provide paid parental leave to its employees. As the nation's largest employer, the federal government should be a leader in family friendly policies, but it has not kept pace with the changing American workforce. Most families today no longer have a stay-at-home parent to care for a new child, and even before the economic crisis few, could afford to go without pay for any length of time. Evidence shows that providing paid parental leave is good for children's health and development, boosts employee morale and productivity, and saves costs for employers by reducing turnover. The evidence is clear -- no one benefits when parents are forced to make the terrible choice between getting a paycheck and caring for their new child.

We need new policies that show that we don't just talk about family values, but that we truly value families. In the 111th Congress, I reintroduced the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009 (H.R. 626) with my colleagues, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), and Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY). H.R. 626 would provide four weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees for the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. H.R. 626 passed the House on June 4, 2009 by a vote of 258-154. The bill is now awaiting action in the Senate, where it has been introduced by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA).

The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (H.R. 626) is a critical piece of legislation which responds to the needs of working families whose needs are not being met under current policies. Among the reasons to support this bill:

* The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has stated that this legislation is PAYGO neutral, and that "enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts."
* Providing paid parental leave will save the federal government money by boosting employee morale and productivity, while reducing turnover.
* H.R. 626 helps the economy. New parents spend an average of $11,000 in added expenses in the year a child is born. By ensuring that new families' incomes stay steady, paid leave insures that their consumption remains steady too, and this is what drives the economic growth we need right now.
* Supporting families by providing paid parental leave is a long-term investment in our future. Children whose parents are provided with paid leave are more likely to have regular check ups, receive immunizations, and engage in the parent-child bonding that is crucial to early childhood development.

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