WASHINGTON, DC—President Obama signed legislation Wednesday that expanded Family and Medical Leave for next of kin of recent veterans wounded or injured in military service.

Because of this legislation, next of kin may now take up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a seriously injured or ill veteran so long as the veteran was injured or became ill while on active duty and his or her symptoms manifest within 5 years.

The provision, part of the Supporting Military Families Act introduced by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

“Veterans of both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are developing serious illnesses and injuries after they are discharged from active service,” said Woolsey. “Brain injuries such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress syndrome are disabling conditions but often do not materialize until well after service members have been discharged from active duty, so to show our support we needed to expand the eligibility deadline.”

The president praised the provision.

“It expands family leave rights for the family members of our troops and veterans, and it makes investments in the capabilities necessary to meet 21st century challenges,” Obama said during a signing ceremony at the White House. “It reaffirms our commitment to our brave men and women in uniform and our wounded warriors.”

Another provision of Woolsey’s Supporting Military Families Act makes families of active duty members eligible for 12 weeks of leave for “exigencies” relating to deployments in contingency operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Before the change in law, the leave was available only to families of members of the National Guard and Reserve.