U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., is calling for more parental leave for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees.
At the end of last week, Hastings brought out the “FAA Family and Medical Leave Act” which “will ensure employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are extended the same paid parental leave benefits afforded to other government employees under the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020.”
Hastings weighed in on the legislation on Saturday.
“The conference report to the NDAA, which passed in the House of Representatives earlier this week, secured a critical provision for federal employees that will provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave in the case of birth, adoption, or fostering. The provision will help the federal government retain talent and remain competitive with private industry,” Hastings said.
“Unfortunately, the paid parental leave provisions apply to employees under Title 5 only, which has resulted in FAA employees being left out of this very important benefit. More than 35,000 federal employees across our nation are responsible for managing air traffic control, aircraft, and airport safety. I believe we must move quickly to address this oversight and ensure that FAA employees receive the paid parental leave benefits they rightly deserve under the NDAA agreement,” Hastings added.
Hastings reeled in the support of U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.
“Every federal employee deserves paid parental leave – period,” said McGovern. “I’m proud to join Congressman Hastings in this important step toward making that a reality for all federal workers. It’s the right thing to do, and I urge all my colleagues in the House to support this important bill.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the end of last week. So far, there is no companion bill over in the U.S. Senate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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