Bill > HR656

This bill aims to improve parental leave protections for members of the Armed Forces by addressing potential career evaluation concerns. In December 2022, Congress expanded paid parental leave to 12 weeks for military personnel after the birth or adoption of a child, but recognized that service members might be hesitant to use this leave due to potential negative performance evaluations. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to establish new regulations within 180 days that automatically exempt military members from performance evaluations if they take more than 31 consecutive days of parental leave. Additionally, the bill allows service members to take parental leave within two years of a child's birth or placement without needing to request special waivers. The legislation acknowledges the unique challenges faced by military parents and seeks to remove bureaucratic barriers that might discourage them from using their family leave benefits. The bill recognizes that the current system lacks consistent guidance across different military branches about how parental leave should be treated in performance evaluations, and aims to create a more uniform and supportive approach to supporting military families.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/656/all-info