The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee plans to vote on HR 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, tomorrow at 1 p.m. The bill would allow new parents to take four weeks of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child.
The committee’s ranking Republican, Darrell Issa of California, opposes the bill. Issa sent letters to the committee members last night saying that “it is simply not the right time” to create a new $850 million benefit for federal employees during the tough economy:
While our committee contemplates enhancing federal benefits packages, the rest of working America is living in fear — worrying about not just losing their benefits, but their jobs completely. Taxpayers are reaching the breaking point when it comes to subsidizing higher federal spending at their expense. Responsible American families are cutting costs and dealing with job loss and the destruction of their savings and retirement accounts.
Federal employees already receive 12 weeks of unpaid leave after the birth or adoption of a child, and can use paid sick leave or vacation time during that period.
