Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-3) and Jeff Jackson (NC-14) today introduced the Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act, a bipartisan bill that would expand parental leave eligibility for fathers and adoptive parents serving in the drilling Reserve and National Guard.
This bill aims to address the disparity under current policies that Congress passed 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 drill members are limited to new mothers.
“As a father and current Air Force Reserve member, I know there’s more that can and should be done to support parental leave for all our military members,” said Rep. Nunn. “I’m thrilled to work across the aisle with fellow Guardsman Jeff Jackson to ensure our National Guard and Reserve members have equal access to parental leave for fathers and adoptive parents. Any servicemember who serves our country deserves time with their new children.”
“Parental leave should be available to all parents,” said Rep. Jackson. “Fathers and adoptive parents in the Reserves and Guard deserve the same time with their children as their active duty counterparts. I’m proud to introduce this bill to expand leave across the National Guard and Reserves.”
Senators Maggie Hassan (NH) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) have introduced the bill in the Senate.
Text of the legislation can be found here.
