[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9261 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9261
To provide paid family and medical leave to Federal employees, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2026
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Houlahan) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide paid family and medical leave to Federal employees, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal
Employees Act''.
SEC. 2. PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY
TITLE 5.
Chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 6381, by amending paragraph (1)(B) to read
as follows:
``(B) has completed at least 12 months of service--
``(i) as an employee (as defined in section
2105) of the Government of the United States,
including service with the United States Postal
Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and
a nonappropriated fund instrumentality as
described in section 2105(c); or
``(ii) which qualifies as military service
(as defined in section 8401(31));''; and
(2) in section 6382--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``12
administrative workweeks of leave'' and
inserting ``12 administrative work
weeks of leave plus any additional
period of leave used under subsection
(d)(2)(B)(ii)'';
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
inserting ``and in order to care for
such son or daughter'' before the
period; and
(III) by adding after subparagraph
(E) the following:
``(F) In order to meet the needs of the employee, or a
family member of the employee, who is a victim of dating
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking,
or stalking to--
``(i) seek medical attention or treatment for
physical or psychological injuries related to domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or
trafficking;
``(ii) seek mental health or counseling services
for injuries and trauma related to domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or
trafficking;
``(iii) seek services from a victim services
organization, including, but not limited to, a domestic
violence program, a sexual assault victim service
provider, a stalking victim service provider;
``(iv) seek civil or criminal legal services to
prepare for and participate in legal proceedings
related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating
violence stalking, or trafficking;
``(v) secure safe housing, including searching for
new housing, relocating, and installing additional
safety measures;
``(vi) in a case in which a family member of the
employee has been a victim of dating violence, domestic
violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking,
to assist the family member in any of the activities
described in clauses (i) through (v);
``(vii) enroll a family member in a new school or
care arrangement; or
``(viii) take other steps necessary to protect or
restore their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual,
and economic well-being or the well-being of a family
member recovering from a qualifying act of violence.'';
(ii) by amending paragraph (2) to read as
follows:
``(2)(A) The entitlement to leave under subparagraph (A) or
(B) of paragraph (1) shall commence at time of birth or
placement of a son or daughter and shall expire at the end of
the 12-month period beginning on the date of such birth or
placement.
``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the entitlement to
leave under subparagraph (B) in connection with adoption may
commence prior to the placement of the son or daughter to be
adopted for activities necessary to allow the adoption to
proceed.
``(C) An employee may use leave under paragraph (1)(A) in
the event that the employee experiences any of the following:
``(i) A pregnancy loss.
``(ii) An unsuccessful round of intrauterine
insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology
procedure.
``(iii) A failed adoption match or an adoption that
is not finalized because it is contested by another
party.
``(iv) A failed surrogacy arrangement.
``(v) A diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy
or fertility.
``(D) An employee may use leave under paragraph (1)(A) in
the event that the absence is necessary to care for a spouse or
domestic partner who experiences a circumstance described in
subparagraph (C).
``(E)(i) In the event that an employee gives birth to a
child under a surrogacy arrangement, the employee may use leave
under paragraph (1)(A) during such recovery period.
``(ii) For an employee who gives birth to a child under a
surrogacy arrangement, the child shall be considered to be the
child of the employee for purposes of determining entitlement
to leave under this subchapter notwithstanding the definition
in section 6381(6).
``(F) In the event that a child dies during the birth-
giving parent's post-birth recovery period, the employee may
use leave under paragraph (1)(A) during such recovery period.
In the case of the employee who is not the birth-giving parent,
such leave is available only to the extent the employee is
providing care to the birth-giving parent. In these
circumstances, an employee may not use leave under paragraphs
(1)(C) or (1)(D).''; and
(iii) in paragraph (4)--
(I) by striking ``Subject to
subsection (d)(2), during'' and
inserting ``During''; and
(II) by inserting ``(or 26
administrative workweeks of leave plus
any additional period of leave used
under subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii))'' after
``26 administrative workweeks of
leave'';
(B) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
``(c) Leave granted under subsection (a)(1) shall be paid leave, as
provided in subsection (d)(2), except that paid leave may not be
provided for leave granted under subparagraphs (A) or (B) of subsection
(a)(1) if an employee does not enter into the required work obligation
agreement described in subsection (d)(2)(F). Leave granted under
subsection (a)(3) shall be leave without pay unless annual or sick
leave is substituted as provided in subsection (d)(1).'';
(C) in subsection (d)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking the first
sentence; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``subparagraph (A) or (B)''
and inserting ``subparagraph (A)
through (E)'';
(II) by striking ``parental'' in
each instance;
(III) in the matter preceding
clause (i) of subparagraph (B), by
striking ``subparagraph (A)'' and
inserting ``any such subparagraph'';
(IV) in subparagraph (B)(i), by
striking ``in connection with the birth
or placement involved'' and inserting
``during any 12-month period (as
referenced in subsection (a)(1)) for
leave granted under subsection (a)(1),
except that the total paid leave
granted for leave under subparagraph
(A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) in
connection with a given birth or
placement event may not exceed 12
administrative workweeks'';
(V) by amending subparagraph
(B)(ii) to read as follows:
``(ii) in addition to the 12 administrative
workweeks under clause (i), any annual or sick
leave accrued or accumulated by such employee,
if used during a 12-month period (as referenced
in subsection (a)(1)) for leave granted under
subsection (a)(1).''; and
(VI) by striking subparagraphs (E),
(F), and (G) and inserting the
following:
``(E) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed
to modify the service requirement in section
6381(1)(B).
``(F) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
paragraph, an employee may not receive paid leave for
leave under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection
(a)(1) unless the employee agrees (in writing), before
the commencement of such leave, to either work for the
applicable employing agency for a period of time equal
to the total amount of paid leave granted to the
employee under subparagraph (B)(i) or provide any
reimbursement required under subparagraph (G). The
qualifying period of work shall exclude any period of
leave or other time off, except for leave covering
periods of service in the uniformed services creditable
under section 4316 of title 38.
``(G)(i) If an employee fails to complete the work
obligation required under subparagraph (F), the
employing agency may recover, from such employee, an
amount equal to the amount of Government contributions
paid by the agency under section 8906 on behalf of the
employee for maintaining such employee's health
coverage under chapter 89 during the period of such
leave after offsetting that period of leave by periods
of work performed in partial compliance with
subparagraph (F).
``(ii) The head of the agency shall not apply the
work obligation requirement in clause (i) in any
instance where the employee fails to complete the work
obligation required under subparagraph (F) because of
the employee's death or because of the continuation,
recurrence, or onset of a serious health condition
(including mental health) affecting the employee or the
employee's spouse, parent, son, or daughter.
``(iii) The head of the employing agency may
require that an employee who claims to be unable to
complete the service required under subparagraph (F)
because of a serious health condition described under
clause (ii) provide certification supporting such claim
by a health care provider. The employee shall provide
such certification to the agency head in a timely
manner.
``(H) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B)(i), with
respect to any employee (as defined in section
6381(1)(B)(i)) who received paid family leave under a
provision of law similar to this section and becomes
subject to this section, the limitations in
subparagraph (B)(i) shall be applied as if the paid
leave granted under that similar provision of law were
granted under this section.''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(f)(1) For purposes of leave under subsection (a)(1)(F), and
subject to paragraph (2), an employing agency may require that a
request for leave under such subsection be supported by a certification
issued at such time and in such manner as the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe.
``(2) In the case of an employee requesting leave under such
subsection who has not yet received a certification as described under
paragraph (1), such agency shall accept a sworn statement in a form
prescribed by the Director that such employee has requested such
certification.
``(3) For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(F), the following
definitions shall apply:
``(A) The terms `dating violence', `sex trafficking',
`sexual assault', and `stalking' have the meaning given those
terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of
1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)).
``(B) The term `domestic violence' has the meaning given
the term in such section 40002(a), except that the reference in
such section to the term `jurisdiction receiving grant funding'
shall be deemed to mean the jurisdiction in which the victim
lives or the jurisdiction in which the employer involved is
located.
``(C) The term `family member' means, with respect to an
employee--
``(i) a spouse (including a domestic partner in a
civil union or other registered domestic partnership
recognized by a State) or a parent of such spouse;
``(ii) a child (regardless of age) or a child's
spouse;
``(iii) a parent or a parent's spouse;
``(iv) a sibling or a sibling's spouse;
``(v) a grandparent, a grandchild, or a spouse of a
grandparent or grandchild; and
``(vi) any other individual who is related by blood
or affinity and whose association with the employee is
equivalent of a family relationship.
``(D) The term `qualifying act of violence' means an act,
conduct, or pattern of conduct that could constitute any of the
following:
``(i) dating violence;
``(ii) domestic violence;
``(iii) family violence;
``(iv) sexual assault;
``(v) sex trafficking;
``(vi) stalking;
``(vii) other forms of gender based violence or
harassment; or
``(viii) an act, conduct, or pattern of conduct--
``(I) in which an individual causes or
threatens to cause bodily injury or death to
another individual;
``(II) in which an individual exhibits,
draws, brandishes, or uses a firearm, or other
dangerous weapon, with respect to another
individual; or
``(III) in which an individual uses, or
makes a reasonably perceived or actual threat
to use, force against another individual to
cause bodily injury or death.
``(E) The term `victim services organization' means a
nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides
assistance to victims of a qualifying act of violence or
advocates for such victims, including a rape crisis center, an
organization carrying out a qualifying act of violence
prevention or treatment program, an organization operating a
shelter or providing counseling services, or a legal services
organization or other organization providing assistance through
the legal process.''.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
ACT OF 1995.
Section 202 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2
U.S.C. 1312), is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) paragraph (1)--
(i) in the second sentence--
(I) by striking ``subsection
(a)(1)(A) or (B)'' and inserting
``under any of subsections (a)(1)(A)
through (E)''; and
(II) by striking ``apply.'' and
inserting ``apply, and in the case of
leave that includes leave for such an
event, the period of leave to which a
covered employee is entitled under
section 102(a)(1) of such Act shall be
12 administrative workweeks of leave
plus any additional period of leave
used under subsection (d)(2)(B) of this
section.''; and
(ii) by striking the third sentence and
inserting the following: ``For purposes of
applying section 102(a)(4) of such Act, in the
case of leave that includes leave under any of
subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section
102(a)(1) of such Act, a covered employee is
entitled, under paragraphs (1) and (3) of
section 102(a) of such Act, to a combined total
of 26 workweeks of leave plus any additional
period of leave used under subsection (d)(2)(B)
of this section.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (B)
to read as follows:
``(B) except for leave described under section
102(a)(3) of such Act, the term `eligible employee' as
used in that Act means a covered employee.''; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Parental Leave'' and inserting ``Family and Medical
Leave'';
(B) by striking ``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' and
inserting ``any of subparagraphs (A) through (F)'';
(C) by striking ``parental'' in each instance;
(D) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``birth or
placement involved'' and inserting ``event giving rise
to such leave''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Special rule for leave relating to dating
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex
trafficking, or stalking.--Leave provided under section
6382(a)(1)(F) of title 5, United States Code, shall
apply to covered employees in the same manner if such
leave were provided under 102(a)(1) of the Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993, subject to the requirements
of this section and section 6382(f) of such title 5.''.
SEC. 4. GAO, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, POSTAL SERVICE, AND POSTAL REGULATORY
COMMISSION EMPLOYEES.
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612), is
amended--
(1) in section 101(2)(E)--
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting
``USPS, and postal regulatory commission'' after
``GAO'';
(B) by inserting ``the United States Postal
Service, or the Postal Regulatory Commission'' after
``Government Accountability Office''; and
(C) by striking ``section 102(a)(1)(A) or (B)'' and
inserting ``section 102(a)(1)(A) through (E)''; and
(2) in section 102--
(A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the
following:
``(6) Special rules on period of leave.--With respect to an
employee of the Government Accountability Office, the Library
of Congress, the United States Postal Service, or the Postal
Regulatory Commission--
``(A) in the case of leave that includes leave
under subparagraph (A) through (E) of paragraph (1),
the employee shall be entitled to 12 administrative
workweeks of leave plus any additional period of leave
used under subsection (d)(3)(B)(ii) of this section or
section 202(d)(2)(B) of the Congressional
Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1312(d)(2)(B)), as
the case may be; and
``(B) for the purposes of paragraph (4), the
employee is entitled, under paragraphs (1) and (3), to
a combined total of 26 workweeks of leave plus, if
applicable, any additional period of leave used under
subsection (d)(3)(B)(ii) of this section or section
202(d)(2)(B) of the Congressional Accountability Act of
1995 (2 U.S.C. 1312(d)(2)(B)), as the case may be.'';
and
(B) in subsection (d)(3)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``USPS, and postal regulatory commission''
after ``GAO'';
(ii) by striking ``the Government
Accountability Office'' in each instance and
inserting ``the Government Accountability
Office, the United States Postal Service, or
the Postal Regulatory Commission'';
(iii) by striking ``parental'' in each
instance and inserting ``family and medical'';
(iv) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' and inserting
``subparagraphs (A) through (E)'';
(v) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking
``birth or placement involved'' and inserting
``event giving rise to such leave''; and
(vi) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Special rule for leave relating to dating
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex
trafficking, or stalking.--Leave provided under section
6382(a)(1)(F) of title 5, United States Code, shall
apply to employees under this paragraph in the same
manner if such leave were provided under 102(a)(1),
subject to the requirements of this subsection and
section 6382(f) of such title 5.''.
SEC. 5. EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.
Section 412 of title 3, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (B)
to read as follows:
``(B) the term `eligible employee' as used in the
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 means a covered
employee who is employed in any employing office,
excluding any individual employed on a temporary or
intermittent basis.''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (3); and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``subparagraph
(A) or (B)'' in each instance and inserting
``subparagraphs (A) through (E)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``for substitution for
leave without pay under subparagraph (A) or (B)
of section 6382(a)(1) of such title''; and
(ii) by adding after the period at the end
the following: ``Leave provided under section
6382(a)(1)(F) of such title 5 shall apply to
covered employees in the same manner if such
leave were provided under 102(a)(1) of such
Act, subject to the requirements of this
subsection and section 6382(f) of such title
5.''.
SEC. 6. FAA AND TSA EMPLOYEES.
Section 40122(g)(5) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``parental''; and
(2) by striking ``parental'' in each instance.
SEC. 7. TITLE 38 EMPLOYEES.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall modify the family and medical
leave program provided by operation of section 7425(c) of title 38,
United States Code, to conform with this Act and the amendments made by
this Act.
SEC. 8. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC
DEFENDER SERVICE.
(a) District of Columbia Courts.--Subsection (d) of section 11-
1726, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``(d) In carrying out the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29
U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) with respect to non-judicial employees of the
District of Columbia courts, the Joint Committee on Judicial
Administration shall, notwithstanding any provision of such Act,
establish a paid family and medical leave program for the leave
described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 102(a)(1) of such
Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)), and such program shall include paid leave
described under section 6382(a)(1)(F) of title 5, United States Code.
In developing the terms and conditions for this program, the Joint
Committee may be guided by the terms and conditions applicable to the
provision of paid family and medical leave for employees of the Federal
Government under chapter 63 of such title 5 and any corresponding
regulations.''.
(b) District of Columbia Public Defender Service.--Subsection (d)
of section 305 of the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal
Procedure Act of 1970 (sec. 21605, D.C. Official Code) is amended to
read as follows:
``(d) In carrying out the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29
U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) with respect to employees of the Service, the
Director shall, notwithstanding any provision of such Act, establish a
paid leave program for the leave described in subparagraphs (A) through
(F) of section 102(a)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)), and such
program shall include paid leave described under section 6382(a)(1)(F)
of title 5, United States Code. In developing the terms and conditions
for this program, the Director may be guided by the terms and
conditions applicable to the provision of paid family and medical leave
for employees of the Federal Government under chapter 63 of such title
5 and any corresponding regulations.''.
SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall begin to apply
on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
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