H.R. 9261

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9261 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9261

To provide paid family and medical leave to Federal employees, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 11, 2026

Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Houlahan) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide paid family and medical leave to Federal employees, and for 
other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal 
Employees Act''.

SEC. 2. PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY 
TITLE 5.

Chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 6381, by amending paragraph (1)(B) to read 
as follows:
``(B) has completed at least 12 months of service--
``(i) as an employee (as defined in section 
2105) of the Government of the United States, 
including service with the United States Postal 
Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and 
a nonappropriated fund instrumentality as 
described in section 2105(c); or
``(ii) which qualifies as military service 
(as defined in section 8401(31));''; and
(2) in section 6382--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ``12 
administrative workweeks of leave'' and 
inserting ``12 administrative work 
weeks of leave plus any additional 
period of leave used under subsection 
(d)(2)(B)(ii)'';
(II) in subparagraph (B), by 
inserting ``and in order to care for 
such son or daughter'' before the 
period; and
(III) by adding after subparagraph 
(E) the following:
``(F) In order to meet the needs of the employee, or a 
family member of the employee, who is a victim of dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, 
or stalking to--
``(i) seek medical attention or treatment for 
physical or psychological injuries related to domestic 
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or 
trafficking;
``(ii) seek mental health or counseling services 
for injuries and trauma related to domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or 
trafficking;
``(iii) seek services from a victim services 
organization, including, but not limited to, a domestic 
violence program, a sexual assault victim service 
provider, a stalking victim service provider;
``(iv) seek civil or criminal legal services to 
prepare for and participate in legal proceedings 
related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating 
violence stalking, or trafficking;
``(v) secure safe housing, including searching for 
new housing, relocating, and installing additional 
safety measures;
``(vi) in a case in which a family member of the 
employee has been a victim of dating violence, domestic 
violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking, 
to assist the family member in any of the activities 
described in clauses (i) through (v);
``(vii) enroll a family member in a new school or 
care arrangement; or
``(viii) take other steps necessary to protect or 
restore their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, 
and economic well-being or the well-being of a family 
member recovering from a qualifying act of violence.'';
(ii) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows:
``(2)(A) The entitlement to leave under subparagraph (A) or 
(B) of paragraph (1) shall commence at time of birth or 
placement of a son or daughter and shall expire at the end of 
the 12-month period beginning on the date of such birth or 
placement.
``(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the entitlement to 
leave under subparagraph (B) in connection with adoption may 
commence prior to the placement of the son or daughter to be 
adopted for activities necessary to allow the adoption to 
proceed.
``(C) An employee may use leave under paragraph (1)(A) in 
the event that the employee experiences any of the following:
``(i) A pregnancy loss.
``(ii) An unsuccessful round of intrauterine 
insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology 
procedure.
``(iii) A failed adoption match or an adoption that 
is not finalized because it is contested by another 
party.
``(iv) A failed surrogacy arrangement.
``(v) A diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy 
or fertility.
``(D) An employee may use leave under paragraph (1)(A) in 
the event that the absence is necessary to care for a spouse or 
domestic partner who experiences a circumstance described in 
subparagraph (C).
``(E)(i) In the event that an employee gives birth to a 
child under a surrogacy arrangement, the employee may use leave 
under paragraph (1)(A) during such recovery period.
``(ii) For an employee who gives birth to a child under a 
surrogacy arrangement, the child shall be considered to be the 
child of the employee for purposes of determining entitlement 
to leave under this subchapter notwithstanding the definition 
in section 6381(6).
``(F) In the event that a child dies during the birth-
giving parent's post-birth recovery period, the employee may 
use leave under paragraph (1)(A) during such recovery period. 
In the case of the employee who is not the birth-giving parent, 
such leave is available only to the extent the employee is 
providing care to the birth-giving parent. In these 
circumstances, an employee may not use leave under paragraphs 
(1)(C) or (1)(D).''; and
(iii) in paragraph (4)--
(I) by striking ``Subject to 
subsection (d)(2), during'' and 
inserting ``During''; and
(II) by inserting ``(or 26 
administrative workweeks of leave plus 
any additional period of leave used 
under subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii))'' after 
``26 administrative workweeks of 
leave'';
(B) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
``(c) Leave granted under subsection (a)(1) shall be paid leave, as 
provided in subsection (d)(2), except that paid leave may not be 
provided for leave granted under subparagraphs (A) or (B) of subsection 
(a)(1) if an employee does not enter into the required work obligation 
agreement described in subsection (d)(2)(F). Leave granted under 
subsection (a)(3) shall be leave without pay unless annual or sick 
leave is substituted as provided in subsection (d)(1).'';
(C) in subsection (d)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking the first 
sentence; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by 
striking ``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' 
and inserting ``subparagraph (A) 
through (E)'';
(II) by striking ``parental'' in 
each instance;
(III) in the matter preceding 
clause (i) of subparagraph (B), by 
striking ``subparagraph (A)'' and 
inserting ``any such subparagraph'';
(IV) in subparagraph (B)(i), by 
striking ``in connection with the birth 
or placement involved'' and inserting 
``during any 12-month period (as 
referenced in subsection (a)(1)) for 
leave granted under subsection (a)(1), 
except that the total paid leave 
granted for leave under subparagraph 
(A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) in 
connection with a given birth or 
placement event may not exceed 12 
administrative workweeks'';
(V) by amending subparagraph 
(B)(ii) to read as follows:
``(ii) in addition to the 12 administrative 
workweeks under clause (i), any annual or sick 
leave accrued or accumulated by such employee, 
if used during a 12-month period (as referenced 
in subsection (a)(1)) for leave granted under 
subsection (a)(1).''; and
(VI) by striking subparagraphs (E), 
(F), and (G) and inserting the 
following:
``(E) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed 
to modify the service requirement in section 
6381(1)(B).
``(F) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
paragraph, an employee may not receive paid leave for 
leave under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection 
(a)(1) unless the employee agrees (in writing), before 
the commencement of such leave, to either work for the 
applicable employing agency for a period of time equal 
to the total amount of paid leave granted to the 
employee under subparagraph (B)(i) or provide any 
reimbursement required under subparagraph (G). The 
qualifying period of work shall exclude any period of 
leave or other time off, except for leave covering 
periods of service in the uniformed services creditable 
under section 4316 of title 38.
``(G)(i) If an employee fails to complete the work 
obligation required under subparagraph (F), the 
employing agency may recover, from such employee, an 
amount equal to the amount of Government contributions 
paid by the agency under section 8906 on behalf of the 
employee for maintaining such employee's health 
coverage under chapter 89 during the period of such 
leave after offsetting that period of leave by periods 
of work performed in partial compliance with 
subparagraph (F).
``(ii) The head of the agency shall not apply the 
work obligation requirement in clause (i) in any 
instance where the employee fails to complete the work 
obligation required under subparagraph (F) because of 
the employee's death or because of the continuation, 
recurrence, or onset of a serious health condition 
(including mental health) affecting the employee or the 
employee's spouse, parent, son, or daughter.
``(iii) The head of the employing agency may 
require that an employee who claims to be unable to 
complete the service required under subparagraph (F) 
because of a serious health condition described under 
clause (ii) provide certification supporting such claim 
by a health care provider. The employee shall provide 
such certification to the agency head in a timely 
manner.
``(H) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B)(i), with 
respect to any employee (as defined in section 
6381(1)(B)(i)) who received paid family leave under a 
provision of law similar to this section and becomes 
subject to this section, the limitations in 
subparagraph (B)(i) shall be applied as if the paid 
leave granted under that similar provision of law were 
granted under this section.''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(f)(1) For purposes of leave under subsection (a)(1)(F), and 
subject to paragraph (2), an employing agency may require that a 
request for leave under such subsection be supported by a certification 
issued at such time and in such manner as the Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe.
``(2) In the case of an employee requesting leave under such 
subsection who has not yet received a certification as described under 
paragraph (1), such agency shall accept a sworn statement in a form 
prescribed by the Director that such employee has requested such 
certification.
``(3) For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(F), the following 
definitions shall apply:
``(A) The terms `dating violence', `sex trafficking', 
`sexual assault', and `stalking' have the meaning given those 
terms in section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 
1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)).
``(B) The term `domestic violence' has the meaning given 
the term in such section 40002(a), except that the reference in 
such section to the term `jurisdiction receiving grant funding' 
shall be deemed to mean the jurisdiction in which the victim 
lives or the jurisdiction in which the employer involved is 
located.
``(C) The term `family member' means, with respect to an 
employee--
``(i) a spouse (including a domestic partner in a 
civil union or other registered domestic partnership 
recognized by a State) or a parent of such spouse;
``(ii) a child (regardless of age) or a child's 
spouse;
``(iii) a parent or a parent's spouse;
``(iv) a sibling or a sibling's spouse;
``(v) a grandparent, a grandchild, or a spouse of a 
grandparent or grandchild; and
``(vi) any other individual who is related by blood 
or affinity and whose association with the employee is 
equivalent of a family relationship.
``(D) The term `qualifying act of violence' means an act, 
conduct, or pattern of conduct that could constitute any of the 
following:
``(i) dating violence;
``(ii) domestic violence;
``(iii) family violence;
``(iv) sexual assault;
``(v) sex trafficking;
``(vi) stalking;
``(vii) other forms of gender based violence or 
harassment; or
``(viii) an act, conduct, or pattern of conduct--
``(I) in which an individual causes or 
threatens to cause bodily injury or death to 
another individual;
``(II) in which an individual exhibits, 
draws, brandishes, or uses a firearm, or other 
dangerous weapon, with respect to another 
individual; or
``(III) in which an individual uses, or 
makes a reasonably perceived or actual threat 
to use, force against another individual to 
cause bodily injury or death.
``(E) The term `victim services organization' means a 
nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that provides 
assistance to victims of a qualifying act of violence or 
advocates for such victims, including a rape crisis center, an 
organization carrying out a qualifying act of violence 
prevention or treatment program, an organization operating a 
shelter or providing counseling services, or a legal services 
organization or other organization providing assistance through 
the legal process.''.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY 
ACT OF 1995.

Section 202 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 
U.S.C. 1312), is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) paragraph (1)--
(i) in the second sentence--
(I) by striking ``subsection 
(a)(1)(A) or (B)'' and inserting 
``under any of subsections (a)(1)(A) 
through (E)''; and
(II) by striking ``apply.'' and 
inserting ``apply, and in the case of 
leave that includes leave for such an 
event, the period of leave to which a 
covered employee is entitled under 
section 102(a)(1) of such Act shall be 
12 administrative workweeks of leave 
plus any additional period of leave 
used under subsection (d)(2)(B) of this 
section.''; and
(ii) by striking the third sentence and 
inserting the following: ``For purposes of 
applying section 102(a)(4) of such Act, in the 
case of leave that includes leave under any of 
subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 
102(a)(1) of such Act, a covered employee is 
entitled, under paragraphs (1) and (3) of 
section 102(a) of such Act, to a combined total 
of 26 workweeks of leave plus any additional 
period of leave used under subsection (d)(2)(B) 
of this section.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (B) 
to read as follows:
``(B) except for leave described under section 
102(a)(3) of such Act, the term `eligible employee' as 
used in that Act means a covered employee.''; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
``Parental Leave'' and inserting ``Family and Medical 
Leave'';
(B) by striking ``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' and 
inserting ``any of subparagraphs (A) through (F)'';
(C) by striking ``parental'' in each instance;
(D) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``birth or 
placement involved'' and inserting ``event giving rise 
to such leave''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Special rule for leave relating to dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex 
trafficking, or stalking.--Leave provided under section 
6382(a)(1)(F) of title 5, United States Code, shall 
apply to covered employees in the same manner if such 
leave were provided under 102(a)(1) of the Family and 
Medical Leave Act of 1993, subject to the requirements 
of this section and section 6382(f) of such title 5.''.

SEC. 4. GAO, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, POSTAL SERVICE, AND POSTAL REGULATORY 
COMMISSION EMPLOYEES.

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612), is 
amended--
(1) in section 101(2)(E)--
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting 
``USPS, and postal regulatory commission'' after 
``GAO'';
(B) by inserting ``the United States Postal 
Service, or the Postal Regulatory Commission'' after 
``Government Accountability Office''; and
(C) by striking ``section 102(a)(1)(A) or (B)'' and 
inserting ``section 102(a)(1)(A) through (E)''; and
(2) in section 102--
(A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following:
``(6) Special rules on period of leave.--With respect to an 
employee of the Government Accountability Office, the Library 
of Congress, the United States Postal Service, or the Postal 
Regulatory Commission--
``(A) in the case of leave that includes leave 
under subparagraph (A) through (E) of paragraph (1), 
the employee shall be entitled to 12 administrative 
workweeks of leave plus any additional period of leave 
used under subsection (d)(3)(B)(ii) of this section or 
section 202(d)(2)(B) of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1312(d)(2)(B)), as 
the case may be; and
``(B) for the purposes of paragraph (4), the 
employee is entitled, under paragraphs (1) and (3), to 
a combined total of 26 workweeks of leave plus, if 
applicable, any additional period of leave used under 
subsection (d)(3)(B)(ii) of this section or section 
202(d)(2)(B) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995 (2 U.S.C. 1312(d)(2)(B)), as the case may be.''; 
and
(B) in subsection (d)(3)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting 
``USPS, and postal regulatory commission'' 
after ``GAO'';
(ii) by striking ``the Government 
Accountability Office'' in each instance and 
inserting ``the Government Accountability 
Office, the United States Postal Service, or 
the Postal Regulatory Commission'';
(iii) by striking ``parental'' in each 
instance and inserting ``family and medical'';
(iv) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
``subparagraph (A) or (B)'' and inserting 
``subparagraphs (A) through (E)'';
(v) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 
``birth or placement involved'' and inserting 
``event giving rise to such leave''; and
(vi) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Special rule for leave relating to dating 
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sex 
trafficking, or stalking.--Leave provided under section 
6382(a)(1)(F) of title 5, United States Code, shall 
apply to employees under this paragraph in the same 
manner if such leave were provided under 102(a)(1), 
subject to the requirements of this subsection and 
section 6382(f) of such title 5.''.

SEC. 5. EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

Section 412 of title 3, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by amending subparagraph (B) 
to read as follows:
``(B) the term `eligible employee' as used in the 
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 means a covered 
employee who is employed in any employing office, 
excluding any individual employed on a temporary or 
intermittent basis.''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (3); and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``subparagraph 
(A) or (B)'' in each instance and inserting 
``subparagraphs (A) through (E)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``for substitution for 
leave without pay under subparagraph (A) or (B) 
of section 6382(a)(1) of such title''; and
(ii) by adding after the period at the end 
the following: ``Leave provided under section 
6382(a)(1)(F) of such title 5 shall apply to 
covered employees in the same manner if such 
leave were provided under 102(a)(1) of such 
Act, subject to the requirements of this 
subsection and section 6382(f) of such title 
5.''.

SEC. 6. FAA AND TSA EMPLOYEES.

Section 40122(g)(5) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``parental''; and
(2) by striking ``parental'' in each instance.

SEC. 7. TITLE 38 EMPLOYEES.

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall modify the family and medical 
leave program provided by operation of section 7425(c) of title 38, 
United States Code, to conform with this Act and the amendments made by 
this Act.

SEC. 8. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC 
DEFENDER SERVICE.

(a) District of Columbia Courts.--Subsection (d) of section 11-
1726, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``(d) In carrying out the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 
U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) with respect to non-judicial employees of the 
District of Columbia courts, the Joint Committee on Judicial 
Administration shall, notwithstanding any provision of such Act, 
establish a paid family and medical leave program for the leave 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 102(a)(1) of such 
Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)), and such program shall include paid leave 
described under section 6382(a)(1)(F) of title 5, United States Code. 
In developing the terms and conditions for this program, the Joint 
Committee may be guided by the terms and conditions applicable to the 
provision of paid family and medical leave for employees of the Federal 
Government under chapter 63 of such title 5 and any corresponding 
regulations.''.
(b) District of Columbia Public Defender Service.--Subsection (d) 
of section 305 of the District of Columbia Court Reform and Criminal 
Procedure Act of 1970 (sec. 21605, D.C. Official Code) is amended to 
read as follows:
``(d) In carrying out the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 
U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) with respect to employees of the Service, the 
Director shall, notwithstanding any provision of such Act, establish a 
paid leave program for the leave described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(F) of section 102(a)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)), and such 
program shall include paid leave described under section 6382(a)(1)(F) 
of title 5, United States Code. In developing the terms and conditions 
for this program, the Director may be guided by the terms and 
conditions applicable to the provision of paid family and medical leave 
for employees of the Federal Government under chapter 63 of such title 
5 and any corresponding regulations.''.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall begin to apply 
on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
<all>