Schumer secures paid parental leave for +114,000 New York Fed employees in final defense authorization bill; expected to pass congress this week, 12 weeks paid parental leave for all +2 million fed workers across the nation for the first time in U.S. history

Statement

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, following his intense advocacy, Congressional lawmakers are nearing an agreement that would offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave for all federal employees to care for a newborn or adopted child, including the 114,386 workers throughout New York State, in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Under current federal law, federal civilian workers are only eligible for three months twelve weeks of unpaid leave, often leaving them in financially precarious or unsustainable positions. When passed, the bill would secure paid parental leave for all federal employees for the first time, bringing the federal government's parental leave laws into the 21st century and on-par with the vast majority of developed nations around the world, allowing new parents to give the appropriate support, love and care to their newborn children.

"The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not have paid parental leave. It's high time that we caught up. And as the nation's largest employer, the federal government offering twelve weeks to its millions of employees across our nation and here in New York, is a step in the right direction From one end of the state to the other, no matter if you are a TSA or customs agent at JFK Airport, working on Fort Drum Army Base, or at Buffalo VA Medical Center, you deserve time to take care of and support your new loved one and family, without worrying how it might impact your ability to put food on the table," said Senator Schumer. "That's why during negotiations for this year's NDAA, I made securing paid parental leave my very top priority, and fought with everything I had to secure it. I'm proud that my efforts, and the efforts of thousands of others, have helped make paid leave for federal employees a reality. I will not stop fighting until this benefit is provided to all workers nationwide."

Below appears a breakdown of New York federal employees by region, according to New York Department of Labor:

NYC: 48,193
Long Island: 15,679
Hudson Valley: 11,177
Western New York: 10,002
Capital Region: 7,182
Central New York: 5,239
Finger Lakes: 5,161
North County: 4,978
Mohawk Valley: 2,828

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