U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) on May 11 cosponsored a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would expand parental leave for members of the United States Armed Forces.
The Servicemember Parental Leave Equity Act, H.R. 3122, which Reps. Joyce and Bice introduced with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), also would reduce the service commitment required for participation in the career intermission program of a military department, according to the congressional record bill summary. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and six Democrats on May 11 introduced the companion bill, S. 1571, in the U.S. Senate.
“No one who serves our country should feel like they have to choose between their military career and becoming a parent. But unfortunately, that is often the case,” Rep. Joyce said. “We should be giving our military members every possible opportunity to succeed, not making their service incompatible with starting a family.”
If enacted, H.R. 3122 would increase caregiver leave to 12 weeks, up from as low as two weeks for secondary caregivers in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers, and service members could take parental leave for the long-term placement of a foster child; paid leave for secondary caregivers in case of miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death; and caregiver leave in multiple increments.
The bill also would expand the 12-month postpartum deferment from deployment to include overnight travel, training exercises, body composition standards, and the physical fitness test, the summary says.
“Our service members and their families have earned this modernization of military parental leave policies,” said Rep. Bice. “Allowing military families the time to experience those first critical months as a new family is incredibly important, and the flexibility for the secondary caregiver to take their leave in more than one increment is especially helpful to servicemembers who may be deployed.”
Additionally, H.R. 3122 would improve the career intermission program to make it more attractive for service members, including those who would use it for longer-term family caregiving, according to the bill summary.
“I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill so that all of our service members can enjoy the gift of parenthood without having to neglect their military careers and professional goals,” said Rep. Joyce.