Newly hired veterans filling medical positions within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would have access to paid sick leave for service-connected injuries under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH).
The Veteran Transition Improvement Act would address a gap in current law that prevents veterans from taking paid sick leave for service-connected disabilities in their first year of employment. The move would give veterans working in medical conditions within the VA the same benefits as employees working within other federal agencies.
“Veterans should not have to choose between receiving a full paycheck and receiving care for their service-connected disabilities,” Stivers said. “Unfortunately, current law puts many veterans in this exact position. This legislation will correct this shortcoming in the law to ensure these veterans who have made, and continue to make, incredible sacrifices for our country have the ability to receive care without sacrificing pay.”
The legislation would address a loophole within the Wounded Warrior Federal Leave Act of 2015 that stipulated that new veteran federal employees with a 30 percent or more service-connected disability could take paid sick leave to receive treatment. The measure did not apply to Title 38 employees like physicians, physician assistants, nurses and other medical staff working within the VA.
U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), who introduced the legislation with Stivers, said Congress must ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities have access to paid sick leave that they deserve.
This legislation corrects an oversight in current law that has left disabled veterans who take a job as a healthcare provider with the Department of Veterans Affairs in the difficult position of having to take unpaid leave to receive care for conditions that stem from their service to our nation,” Takano said. “I am thankful to Rep. Stivers for the opportunity to work with him on a solution to this problem, because we must always stand up for the brave men and women who have served our nation.”
The legislation was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jon Tester (D-MT).