Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference on Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act

WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) delivered the following remarks today at a press conference with Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressmen Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Don Beyer (D-VA) to announce the reintroduction of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (FEPPLA). The legislation, which Congressman Hoyer cosponsored, would provide six weeks of paid leave for federal employees for the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child.

Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

"I'm proud to be joining my colleagues here today to re-introduce the Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act. 

"Last Tuesday night, the President spoke to the American people about the need to ensure that all Americans are feeling the benefits of the recovery. Making child care easier and more affordable is central to supporting working families and ensuring that more workers can reach the middle class.

"Many private sector workers already enjoy paid parental and family leave – including at companies like Google, Bank of America, and Facebook. But workers and their families who do not have paid family are forced to use what few sick days and vacation days they have– and then take unpaid leave.

"For those working for the federal government, paid parental and family leave would achieve three important goals. First, it will help America's federal employees take time off to care for their loved ones. Second, it would help us recruit and retain top talent to serve the American people. And, third, it would serve as an example to encourage private sector businesses that do not yet offer paid parental and family leave to do so.

"Here in the Greater Washington area, this bill would help a lot of federal workers and their families. But what many people don't realize is that 85% of federal employees live and work outside of the D.C. area, so this bill would benefit working families from California to Connecticut, from Minnesota to Miami, and everywhere in between.

"We are here today to urge the House to consider this legislation without delay so we can begin to expand child care and family leave access to more workers throughout our economy."