[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FAMILY FRIENDLY LEAVE ACT

  Mr. McCLOSKEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4361) to amend title 5, United States 
Code, to provide that an employee of the Federal Government may use 
sick leave to attend to the medical needs of a family member; to modify 
the voluntary leave transfer program with respect to employees who are 
members of the same family; and for other purposes, with Senate 
amendments thereto and concur in the Senate amendments.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendments, as follows:

       Senate amendments: Strike out all after the enacting clause 
     and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Employees Family 
     Friendly Leave Act''.

     SEC. 2. USE OF SICK LEAVE FOR PURPOSES RELATING TO A FAMILY 
                   MEMBER.

       Section 6307 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(d)(1) For the purpose of this subsection, the term 
     `family member' shall have such meaning as the Office of 
     Personnel Management shall by regulation prescribe, except 
     that such term shall include any individual who meets the 
     definition given that term, for purposes of the leave 
     transfer program under subchapter III, under regulations 
     prescribed by the Office (as in effect on January 1, 1993).
       ``(2) Subject to paragraph (3) and in addition to any other 
     allowable purpose, sick leave may be used by an employee--
       ``(A) to give care or otherwise attend to a family member 
     having an illness, injury, or other condition which, if an 
     employee had such condition, would justify the use of sick 
     leave by such an employee; or
       ``(B) for purposes relating to the death of a family 
     member, including to make arrangements for or attend the 
     funeral of such family member.
       ``(3)(A) Sick leave may be used by an employee for the 
     purposes provided under paragraph (2) only to the extent the 
     amount used for such purposes does not exceed--
       ``(i) 40 hours in any year, plus
       ``(ii) up to an additional 64 hours in any year, but only 
     to the extent the use of such additional hours does not cause 
     the amount of sick leave to the employee's credit to fall 
     below 80 hours.
       ``(B) In the case of a part-time employee or an employee on 
     an uncommon tour of duty, the Office of Personnel Management 
     shall establish limitations that are proportional to those 
     prescribed under subparagraph (A).
       ``(4)(A) This subsection shall be effective during the 3-
     year period that begins upon the expiration of the 2-month 
     period that begins on the date of the enactment of this 
     subsection.
       ``(B) Not later than 6 months before the date on which this 
     subsection is scheduled to cease to be effective, the Office 
     shall submit a report to Congress in which it shall evaluate 
     the operation of this subsection and make recommendations as 
     to whether or not this subsection should be continued beyond 
     such date.''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to amend chapter 63 
     of title 5, United States Code, to provide that an employee 
     of the Federal Government may use sick leave to attend to the 
     medical needs of a family member, and for other purposes.''.

  Mr. McCLOSKEY (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the Senate amendments be considered as read and printed in 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman form Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the initial request of 
the gentleman from Indiana?
  Mrs. MYERS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am reserving the right to 
object, again I do so to allow our colleague, the gentleman from 
Indiana [Mr. McCloskey] to explain what is in the compromise.
  Mr. McCLOSKEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MYERS of Indiana. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. McCLOSKEY. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4361, the Federal Employees Family 
Friendly Leave Act, clarifies the right of Federal employees to use 
their sick leave to care for sick family members or for purposes 
relating to the death of a family member. The second part of the bill 
provides that Federal employees may donate and receive annual leave for 
any reason from family members who also work for the Federal 
Government.
  On August 10, 1994, the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, 
by a record vote of 19 to 1, approved H.R. 4361. The House approved the 
bill by voice vote under suspension of the rules on September 19, 1994.
  The Senate amended H.R. 4361 and removed the provision allowing 
Federal employees to transfer their annual leave to their family 
members. In addition, the Senate amended the provision regarding sick 
leave to restrict employees' ability to substitute sick leave to at 
least 5 sick days per year to care for a sick family member, plus up to 
8 more days per year--for a ceiling of 13 days--as long as the 
employee's sick leave balance would not fall below 10 days.
  The Post Office and Civil Service Committee has no objection to the 
Senate amendments.
  Mr. MYERS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that we have a 
lot of friends who have medical problems who necessarily need to have 
extra time; others, colleagues, who have a surplus of time, and this is 
very necessary. It is a way of sharing time for people who need it 
because of illness, or the family, or themselves. So, with the 
understanding that there are no nongermane provisions here and nothing 
that is not substantive to changes in the House, then I have no 
objection.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the initial request of 
the gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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