Standardizing Department parental leave policies

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to— (1)afford every employee at the Department of State equal access to leave and workplace flexibilities for childbirth, adoption, and foster care; (2)encourage the Department to work towards a parental leave policy that will help recruit and retain a dynamic, multi-talented, and diverse workforce capable of meeting the national security and foreign policy goals of the United States; and (3)determine the impacts of flexible leave policies on recruitment and retention rates. (b)

Establishing standard parental leave policies

(1)

In general

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish and implement a standard parental leave policy applicable to Department of State employees across all bureaus and offices within the Department and Missions abroad. Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide any new category of leave not otherwise provided by law. (2)

Reports

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing— (A)the steps taken to implement the policy required under paragraph (1) across all bureaus and offices within the Department and Missions abroad; and (B)any costs associated with such policy. (3)

Appropriate congressional committees

For purposes of paragraph (2), the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (B)the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (C)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (D)the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.