Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 313, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015, sponsored by my colleague, Congressman Stephen Lynch. This important piece of legislation supports wounded warriors newly hired in the Federal Government.
The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 supports our disabled veterans transitioning to civilian careers by providing sick leave for medical treatments and appointments that are related to their service-connected disability.
Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation provides immediate access to sick leave for any new Federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more for the purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability.
Because Federal employees begin with a zero sick leave balance and accrue sick leave over time, disabled veterans beginning civilian jobs often have insufficient sick leave to attend medical appointments required for treatment of their service-connected disabilities. This bill provides our newly hired disabled veterans with immediate access of up to 13 days for sick leave so that our disabled veterans do not have to take unpaid leave to care for their service-connected injuries.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 313 is supported by a number of veterans and employee organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Federal Managers Association.
I commend Mr. Lynch for his leadership on this issue and for working with Mr. Farenthold, Ranking Member Cummings, Mr. Connolly, and Ms. Norton to bring this bipartisan legislation before the committee. I also want to acknowledge Senators TESTER, MORAN, and TOOMEY for their work on the Senate companion bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I truly thank Congressman Lynch for his leadership on this issue. It is an issue not only whose time has come, but probably should have come long before this. It is a great idea that deals with the reality of what we face in dealing with wounded warriors and their ongoing success that this country--a grateful country--ought to be involved with encouraging.
I urge the adoption of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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