[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCING THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES LEAVE TRANSFER ACT OF 2011

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                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2011

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Federal 
Employees Leave Transfer Act of 2011. Put simply, this bill will permit 
federal employees to transfer unused sick leave, without compensation, 
to agency sick leave banks.
  I offer this bill during a time when federal employee benefits and 
service are under attack. Unlike some voices, I believe that public 
service as a worthwhile endeavor, and that the civil service is a 
talented workforce that needs to be carefully managed and developed.
  Though this bill is a small change to existing law, it is an 
important one because it reassures federal employees that if they 
became catastrophically ill, or require extended leave due to the 
illness of a loved one, other federal employees can come to their 
assistance through the donation of their excess sick leave.
  This bill is expected to be nearly cost-neutral. The bill states that 
federal employees cannot be compensated for transferring their sick 
leave to a sick leave bank. That provision is expected to nearly 
eliminate the cost of the bill, with the small exception of program 
administration.
  Mr. Chairman, as you know, until 2014, Federal Employee Retirement 
System (FERS) employees will be allowed to use one-half of their 
accumulated sick leave for annuity purposes. This bill will allow 
federal employees to donate their excess leave to a sick bank, rather 
than suffering from the ``FERS flu.'' This bill could even increase 
productivity by preventing the abuse of sick leave.
  Sick leave donation programs and banks are abundant in state and 
local government, at public and private universities, and in the 
private sector. Therefore this bill will not grant federal employees a 
benefit not enjoyed by the private sector.
  For those who believe this bill may contribute to abuse, it must be 
noted that a federal employee cannot draw from a leave bank unless he/
she donates to the bank in the first place. That incentivizes 
participation. Second, a federal employee cannot actually draw from a 
leave bank until he/she has exhausted all of their own sick and annual 
leave. Therefore, leave banks are shielded from abuse since federal 
employees cannot take advantage of this benefit until they have 
significant skin in the game.
  Finally, I am proud that this bill has 4 esteemed public servants as 
original co-sponsors: Congressmen Connolly, Wolf, Sarbanes and Van 
Hollen. This bill is also supported by the American Federation of 
Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, the 
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, the Federal 
Law Enforcement Officers Association, and Federal Managers Association.

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