Paid parental leave was a priority during my campaign. I have long thought that the federal government needs to take the lead in providing family friendly working environments for new parents.
I will support paid parental leave legislation and work to make the federal government lead on family-friendly policies for new parents.
Occurrences
Evidence
Rep. Don Beyer joined Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney, Steny Hoyer, and Jamie Raskin as they reintroduced the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (FEPPLA). Beyer said: "Forcing new parents to choose between their child and a paycheck is an archaic practice that needs to end." FEPPLA would provide federal employees six weeks of paid leave following the birth, adoption or fostering of a child.
Beyer joined colleagues introducing the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), which would provide 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal employees. Beyer said paid family leave for federal employees is needed because the federal government comes in last among developed nations on paid parental leave.
The statute compilation lists 'Federal Employee Paid Leave Act' as a short title within the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, Public Law 116-92. GovInfo also identifies Public Law 116-92 as the NDAA that contains the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act.
OPM states it is issuing an interim final rule to implement the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, which provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to certain Federal employees covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act. The notice says the law was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 and becomes effective October 1, 2020.
Assessments
Beyer promised to support paid parental leave legislation and make the federal government lead on family-friendly policies for new parents. The evidence shows he publicly supported and helped introduce federal employee paid parental leave legislation during his House service, including FEPPLA and FEPLA. The core outcome was enacted in Public Law 116-92, the FY2020 NDAA, as the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible federal employees, with OPM implementing it effective October 1, 2020. Because the enacted policy directly matches the federal-government-as-employer parental leave promise and occurred while Beyer remained in federal office, this counts as delivered in the same term/context. The effort badge is warranted because he made documented legislative efforts supporting and advancing the policy.
The promise had two linked components: support paid parental leave legislation and make the federal government lead on family-friendly policies for new parents. The evidence shows Beyer publicly backed and helped introduce federal employee paid parental leave bills, and the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act was enacted in the FY2020 NDAA, providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible federal employees effective October 1, 2020. That satisfies the federal-government-leadership component for new parents, even if broader universal paid leave was not achieved.