“Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted to include a paid family and medical leave policy in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would ensure millions of federal employees no longer have to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a loved one. The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), which was included in the underlying bill today as part of a broader authorizing package, will help the government to attract and retain talented workers — particularly younger workers — and save taxpayers money by reducing employee turnover and replacement costs.

The passage of FEPLA is a critical part of the movement toward paid leave for all working people. The federal government is the nation’s largest employer with more than 2 million workers across the country. By enacting a paid leave policy that will allow federal workers to take paid time away from work to care for a new child, seriously ill or injured loved one or their own medical condition, FEPLA serves as a model for the type of comprehensive policy that all working people need.

We thank Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) for introducing FEPLA as an amendment and call on all members of Congress to support and pass the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act so that we can finally have paid leave for all.”