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​BPC Praises New Paid Family Leave Benefits for Federal Workers

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Ari Goldberg

Washington, DC – The fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report includes language offering a generous 12 weeks of paid parental leave to mothers and fathers who serve as federal workers. If passed into law, this bill will bring paid leave to the largest workforce in the country and two million Americans will benefit from a defined paid parental leave program to bond with their children.

Adrienne Schweer, a fellow on BPC’s Paid Family Leave Task Force, says:

“Congress took a big step by bringing paid leave to the largest workforce in America. We know paid family leave increases the amount of time new mothers and fathers spend with their children. Research continues to tell us that infant bonding has an enormous impact on children’s development and well-being for the rest of their lives.

“We congratulate the bipartisan group of lawmakers who championed this policy, especially House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), who was the driving force behind the provision, and Senate Armed Services Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) for helping millions of working families across America.

“For me, this is personal. I have been one of those workers without paid leave and know how hard it is to return to work within just a few weeks of giving birth. I hope this new policy gives moms and dads time to enjoy the early months of a child’s arrival, to recover from the ordeal of birth, to bond as a family unit, and to return to work healthier.”

Adrienne Schweer is available for comment.

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