April 20, 2015
By Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Washington DC – I remember when, as a young working woman pregnant with my first child, I asked my employer about our leave policy. I was told, “What leave? You just leave!”
No one should have to choose between a job and raising their child. But without paid parental leave benefits, too many of our federal employees risk either losing their jobs or critical time with their newborn child.
I've authored the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act to provide our federal workforce with modern parental leave benefits – providing federal employees up to six weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child or placement of a foster child.
Paid parental leave is not just the right thing to do for American families – it’s good for our economy. Paid leave builds up a strong, productive workforce and provides economic stability for our young, hardworking families.
The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act will improve the lives of millions of federal employees. President Obama endorsed this approach in his State of the Union and now we must urge Congress to pass it.
The U.S. is the only country in the world besides Papua New Guinea that lacks a paid family leave policy. That's not the kind of club I want our country to be in.
Please, join me in supporting our federal workforce by urging Congress to pass the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. It's passed the House twice before, in 2008 and 2009, but we are going to need your help to get this signed into law.
