Investing in the Future of the Federal Workforce: Paid Parental Leave Improves Recruitment and Retention
2154 Rayburn House Office Building
March 6, 2008
Washington, D.C. – Joint Economic Vice Chair Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Subcommittee of Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia held a hearing examining the merits of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2007 (HR 3799) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 9:30am. The Hearing, entitled “Investing in the Future of the Federal Workforce: Paid Parental Leave to Improve Recruitment and Retention,” highlighted the benefits of providing all federal employees with eight weeks of full pay for leave taken for the birth or adoption of a child. Currently, the federal government only provides employees with access to 12 weeks of unpaid leave through the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, which many workers cannot afford to take. Witnesses included representatives from the federal government, leading policy analysts specializing in paid family and medical leave, unions that represent federal workers, and an employee who recounted the challenges she has faced because of the unpaid leave policy currently in place.
Opening Statements:
Witness Statements:
- Ms. Amy Costantino, Federal Employee, Washington, D.C. (PDF - 23.4 KBs)
- Ms. Mary Jean Burke, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (PDF - 43.4 KBs)
- Ms. Colleen Kelley, President, National Treasury Employees Union (PDF - 182.8 KBs)
- Dr. Vicky Lovell, The Institute for Women's Policy Research (PDF - 73.2 KBs)
- Ms. Sharyn Tejani, National Partnership for Women & Families (PDF - 98.6 KBs)
- Dr. Jane Waldfogel, Professor of Social Work, Columbia University (PDF - 37.1 KBs)
- Ms. Nancy Kichak, US Office of Personnel Management (PDF - 17.5 KBs)
- Dr. Daniel Beard, Chief Administrative Officer, US House of Representatives (PDF - 1.2 MBs)