December 13, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 200 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          INTRODUCTION OF THE FAA FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 13, 2019

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the FAA family 
and Medical Leave Act. This legislation will ensure that employees of 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are extended the same paid 
parental leave benefits afforded to other government employees under 
the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 
for Fiscal Year 2020.
  The conference report to the NDAA, which was announced earlier this 
week and passed in the House of Representatives Wednesday evening, 
secured a critical provision for federal employees that will provide 12 
weeks of paid parental leave in the case of birth, adoption, or 
fostering. The provision will help the federal government retain talent 
and remain competitive with private industry.
  Unfortunately, this section was drafted to apply to Title 5 only, 
which has resulted in FAA employees being left out of this very 
important benefit. More than 35,000 federal employees across our nation 
are responsible for managing air traffic control, aircraft, and airport 
safety. I believe we must move quickly to address this oversight and 
ensure that FAA employees receive the paid parental leave benefits they 
rightly deserve under the NDAA agreement.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce this measure and urge this 
body to provide for its immediate consideration.

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