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The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate both passed U.S. Representative Zach Nunn’s (IA-03) bipartisan legislation to expand parental leave eligibility for parents serving in the drilling Reserve or National Guard. The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act, co-led with Representative Jeff Jackson (NC-14), was included in the National Defense Authorization Act and now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“As a father and current Air Force Reserve member, I’ve experienced firsthand the sacrifices parents make to serve our country. I’m proud that our bipartisan bill has been included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to make life easier for military families,” Rep. Nunn said. “I look forward to this critical bill being signed into law to ensure Reserve and National Guard parents have the same access to leave as their active duty counterparts. Any servicemember who serves our country deserves time with their new children.”

The Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act addresses a disparity under current policies implemented in 2021 that expanded parental leave for fathers and adoptive parents in active duty but did not include drilling members of the Reserve and National Guard. Currently, leave policies for those servicemembers are offered to new mothers but not fathers or adoptive parents.  This bill equalizes leave policies for all service members.

The bill, which was originally introduced on April 13, 2023 at the American Legion in Bondurant, Iowa, passed the House of Representatives on December 14, 2023 and Senate on December 13, 2023 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Author: Press Release

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