Workforce
Legislators argue about paid family and sick leave for federal agencies
Carolyn Maloney (DN.Y.) leads a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing
Democrats and Republicans argued during a House Committee hearing on Oversight and Reform Thursday over a bill that would grant federal agencies paid family and sick leave.
The bill, advocated by committee chair Carolyn Maloney (DN.Y.), provides 12 weeks of paid leave for the FBI for medical issues, family care and military operations. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced an accompanying law in April.
The effort is part of the Democrats’ broader efforts towards nationally paid family and sick leave, a goal included in Biden’s proposed American Families Plan.
“The Federal Employee Comprehensive Paid Vacation Act is part of the administration’s vision,” Maloney said during the hearing. “It will strengthen the federal workforce over the long term, and it is a federal government roadmap to lead by example to create fair and safe jobs for American families.”
During the hearing, Republican committee members expressed skepticism about expanding the federal benefits package. They also pointed to the lack of a cost estimate for the Congressional Budget Office’s bill.
“We have already dramatically increased paid vacation leave for the federal workforce,” said senior committee member James Comer (R-Ky.). “We need to put the American people first, not the special interests of federal bureaucrats.”
Other Democrats and witnesses at the hearing said paid family and sick leave would help agencies recruit and retain, and pointed to the positive impact the change could have on individual federal agencies.
Although some paid vacation benefits for federal employees were included in COVID-19 relief packages, Maloney’s bill would be the largest expansion of federal employee benefits since federal agencies were granted 12 weeks of paid parental leave in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
“I’ve heard countless stories from [American Federation of Government Employees] Members faced with the impossible choice between paying a paycheck or caring for a loved one or themselves before they can get back to work, “said Everett Kelley, president of AFGE national.” Paid family leave undoubtedly becomes recruitment and retention talented workers who may move on to other jobs that have such vacations. “
Democrats also opposed Republican reluctance to expand the federal employee benefits package, saying the provision of paid family and sick leave was an overdue necessity.
Having a child “is not a ‘perk,'” Maloney said. “If your child is sick, what is wrong with giving them paid leave to be with them?”
Federal wage
In other salary and benefits news, the House Budgets Committee approved the financial services and state funding bill for fiscal year 2022.
The bill is silent about the federal salary increases. This suggests the committee supports President Joe Biden’s proposed 2.7% hike in the Fed. It is unclear how this will specifically affect the local salary and base salary for federal agencies.
It is below the 3.2% increase repeatedly proposed by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) And Schatz.
In a statement on the bill, National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon said the 2.7% increase proposal is a “welcome start to the debate about what federal employees will earn next year,” but “there is.” many It is time for the government and Congress to reconsider this. “
The budget bill also provides $ 300 million for the Biden-sponsored electric vehicle fund to convert the federal vehicle fleet to electric and zero-emission vehicles.
It also provides for a $ 42 million increase for the Office of Personnel Management from the level decided in fiscal 2021. This will help OPM “manage federal human resources and provide guidance and manage federal pension and health benefit programs,” according to the committee’s legislative summary.
About the author
Natalie Alms works at FCW for the federal workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (NC) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.
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