Paid Parental Leave

In This Section

AFSA is a strong supporter of paid parental leave. We work closely with members of the Federal-Postal Coalition and affinity groups within the foreign affairs agencies to advance the issue; and are continuously asking for feedback from our members on this and other work-life balance issues.

We are currently working closely with both U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and with Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who have proposed legislation to address paid parental leave for federal employees.

Congressional Actions:

  • On September 15, 2015, Senators Schatz and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) introduced S. 2033, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (FEPPLA) in the U.S. Senate. The legislation, if enacted, would provide federal employees with six weeks of paid leave, under the Family and Medical Leave Act, for the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. AFSA was one of the first groups to publicly endorse the bill.
  • On January 26, 2015, Rep. Maloney introduced H.R. 532, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act in the House of Representatives. AFSA also publicly endorsed her bill.

Both bills seek to:

  • Allow federal employees to substitute any available paid leave for any leave without pay available for either the: (1) birth of a child, or (2) placement of a child with the employee for either adoption or foster care. Makes available (subject to specified requirements) for any of the 12 weeks of leave an employee is entitled to for such purposes: (1) six administrative weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth or placement involved, and (2) any accumulated annual or sick leave.
  • Authorize the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to promulgate regulations to increase the amount of paid parental leave available to such an employee to a total of 12 administrative workweeks, based on the consideration of: (1) the benefits to the federal government, including enhanced recruitment and employee retention; (2) the cost to the government; (3) trends in the private sector and in state and local governments; (4) the federal government's role as a model employer; and (5) the impact of increased paid parental leave on lower-income and economically disadvantaged employees and their children.

Other AFSA Actions:

We are hopeful that paid parental leave will come up for a vote during the 114th Congress. Rep. Maloney is not giving up the fight. Currently, the bill is still with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee hasn’t taken any action and it will be up to the chair, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) to pass the bill through the committee and to the House floor for a vote.

Given AFSA’s excellent working relationship with both, Chairman Chaffetz and the Committee’s Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), we are confident that we can help move the bill forward.

What can you and your networks do?

Here are links to the co-sponsors of the House and Senate bills. If you do not see your Senators or Representative, AFSA strongly suggests that you call or write them asking that they consider co-sponsoring the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act. Let them know the importance of the bill and why it matters to you and your family. You can also encourage friends and family to do the same.

Getting this bill passed will go a long way toward ensuring paid parental leave is not a myth, but a reality.

For questions on legislative issues or to share your concerns, please send an email to policy@afsa.org.