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119-hr-9261119th CongressWALLET

Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act

Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

In Committee

Summary

Paid family and medical leave: This bill would create a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program for federal employees and extend coverage to the Government Accountability Office, the United States Postal Service, and the Postal Regulatory Commission.

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  • Eligible federal employees would get a base entitlement of 12 administrative workweeks to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or address their own serious health condition. Leave can be combined with annual and sick leave and may be extended by additional paid periods.
  • The bill would add paid leave for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. Covered activities include medical care, counseling, legal services, safe housing, and helping affected family members, and agencies may accept a certification or a sworn statement when formal documentation is not yet available.
  • Agencies would be required to issue transitional guidance to implement and coordinate the program. A required work-obligation agreement would apply to certain paid leave with possible recovery of government contributions if the agreement is not met, and the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration and the D.C. Public Defender Service would establish matching paid leave programs 6 months after enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Expanded parental and placement leave

If enacted, the bill would give covered employees 12 administrative workweeks of paid leave for a birth or child placement. Some related leaves can combine for a 26-workweek total where the Act allows. The law would also cover pregnancy loss, failed assisted reproduction or surrogacy, contested or failed adoptions, and pre-placement adoption activities. You could also use accrued annual or sick leave during the same 12-month period.

Paid leave for violence survivors

If enacted, the bill would create paid leave for employees who are victims of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking, and for family members of employee-victims. The leave would cover medical care, counseling, victim services, legal help, safe housing or relocation, and enrolling a child in a new school or care. Agencies could require certification, but a sworn statement would be accepted temporarily when formal certification is not yet available.

Who the leave would cover

If enacted, the bill would extend the paid leave rules to many more federal and legislative-branch employees, including Congressional, EOP, GAO, Library of Congress, USPS, and Postal Regulatory Commission staff. The Department of Veterans Affairs would have to change VA leave rules to match this Act within 6 months. Non-judicial D.C. Courts staff and Public Defender Service employees would get similar programs. The law would still require 12 months of qualifying service to be eligible, and prior similar paid leave could count against your new entitlement.

Work agreement and repayment rules

If enacted, you would have to sign a written agreement before certain paid parental or placement leave. You would agree to work for your agency for time equal to the paid leave or to repay required amounts. If you fail to complete the work, the agency may recover government health plan contributions paid during your leave. The agency could not collect repayment if you die or cannot finish because of a qualifying serious health condition.

When the new rules would start

If enacted, the bill would not take effect immediately. The Act and its amendments would begin to apply on a date 6 months after enactment. That delay would postpone when employees and agencies can use or put in place the new paid leave rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

VA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 6/15/2026

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/15/2026

  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 6/15/2026

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/18/2026

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 6/30/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 6/30/2026

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/30/2026

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 6/30/2026

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 8/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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