Supporters of paid leave for federal workers who become new parents are optimistic that this could be the year Congress finally approves the benefit after eight years of such bills languishing in Congress without even a subcommittee vote. 

HR 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, was passed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on April 16, 2008.  It would give new mothers and fathers, including those who are new adoptive parents, pay for four weeks of leave. 

Currently new parents are eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, but they must use banked sick or annual leave in order to keep getting paid during their absence.  The remaining eight weeks of available leave would remain unpaid.

Such a move would put federal employees far ahead of their peers in the private sector. A 2007 study finds that only 17 percent of companies offer paid paternity leave and 18 percent offer paid maternity leave.  

It would also be very costly. The Congressional Budget Office is still assessing the total cost of the current bill, but a 2000 CBO study found that six weeks of paid parental leave would cost the government $95 million in the program's first year.

The American Federation of Government Employees supports the bill and argues that the Republican opposition based on cost is shortsighted.  AFGE's legislative representative, Charity Wilson, explained the CBO estimate "doesn't take into account the cost of parents who are at work but aren't productive because they're concerned, or parents who walk away from the job.  Those costs are far higher because that's experience walking out the door."

Rep. Kenny Marchant of Texas was one of the committee Republicans voting against the bill.  He supports a proposal that would establish a short-term disability benefit program that would provide maternity leave.  Federal employees would pay premiums of about $40 per pay period to receive 60 percent of their wages for up to 12 weeks.  This type of maternity leave is common in the private sector.

The House bill, authored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), may come up for vote in the House as early as this spring.  It has broad Democratic support and has been scaled down from its original version requiring eight weeks of paid parental leave.  Davis's spokesperson said this compromise would help him win more support from his party.

The Senate is also considering a bill on paid family leave, sponsored by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK).  S 80, the Stevens' Executive Branch Family Leave Act, would give new mothers eight weeks of paid leave, and new fathers and adoptive parents one week of paid leave.  The House's recent action on its version seems to have stimulated movement on this bill.  Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HA), said he plans to hold hearings this year on the matter.