Reps. Maloney and Lynch hail Committee Passage of Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act

Mar 25, 2009 Issues: Working Families, Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act
Press Contact: 
Jon Houston (202) 225-7944

WASHINGTON, DC – Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) hailed today’s subcommittee passage of the “Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009,” H.R. 626, through the House Oversight a Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia today.

“Especially in this economy, families shouldn’t have to stress over cobbling together accrued sick days and vacation time to care for a newborn infant or newly adopted child—they should be focusing on their new family,” Rep. Maloney said. “The Federal government is the largest employer in the nation, but it lags behind the private sector on this vital work-life issue, so this bill can have a big impact. I’m grateful to Chairman Lynch for his quick work in getting this vital bill through the Subcommittee.”

"Women in the workforce are disproportionately impacted by the lack of paid maternity leave," said Chairman Stephen F. Lynch. "This is the right thing to do. As Chairman, I am pleased that H.R. 626 passed my Subcommittee. I congratulate Rep. Maloney and hope that the bill will move swiftly through Congress."

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) a cosponsor of H.R. 626 whose district includes thousands of Federal workers, also praised the committee action. “Welcoming a new child into the world is a major life event that should be a joyful time for parents. However, current federal leave policy makes it difficult for families to take adequate time off,” stated Majority Leader Hoyer. “I am pleased to see this important legislation to help more families achieve a healthy work-life balance and increase the marketability of the federal government as a pro-family employer move forward.”

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Background:
In the 110th Congress, FEPPLA (H.R. 5781) passed the House on 6/19/2008 by 278 – 146.

It was supported by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Federally Employed Women, Moms Rising, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

For additional information on “The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act,” including an extensive background memo on last year’s version of FEPPLA, please click here.