WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) and Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation to increase military leave for federal employees who serve in the National Guard or reserve forces.
Federal law currently provides 15 days of paid leave, separate from sick leave and vacation, for federal employees who also serve in the National Guard or reserves to use for military training and service. This current allotment is largely based on a Monday through Friday work schedule and discounts many federal employees who work weekends, such as federal firefighters, correctional officers, and law enforcement officers. Once federal employees exhaust their military leave, they must either tap into their vacation leave, sick leave, or take unpaid leave — hitting their wallets and their retirement savings to continue to serve. Guardsmen and reservists are required to attend a two-week annual training and attend unit assembly, known as “drill,” at least one weekend each month.
The bipartisan Supporting Federal Employees in the National Guard & Reserves Act would increase the leave allotted for federal employees to use for active duty, full-time training, and inactive duty training to 36 days per fiscal year — the minimum number of days members of the National Guard and reserve forces are called to serve, including weekends.
“Our nation’s veterans and federal employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserves have made incredible contributions to our communities and our country," said Rep. Wittman. “These dedicated public servants should not have to use their sick leave and vacation days in order to attend drill on weekends and their annual training. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure these individuals receive adequate military leave so they are not penalized for serving our nation.”
“Every Virginian who stands ready to serve our Commonwealth and our country deserves our strongest support and our utmost gratitude. Our brave guardsmen and reservists often leave their homes and families to remain prepared to support our communities during an emergency, train to serve their country, or when called to full-time service. These heroes serve at great personal cost — and should not have to further sacrifice in support of the mission,” said Rep. Spanberger. “I’ve heard firsthand of the extra burden shouldered by federal employees who often contribute their personal PTO and sick leave to fulfill their duties. Congress must work to provide every American who answers the call with stability and peace of mind, and our bipartisan legislation is a small way to deliver for our neighbors who show us what it truly means to serve.”
The bipartisan Supporting Federal Employees in the National Guard & Reserves Act is endorsed by several national organizations representing federal employees and first responders — like the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and Reserve Organization of America (ROA).
“Sufficient military leave time for federal law enforcement and correctional officers who concurrently serve in the National Guard or reserves—public servants fulfilling multiple critical duties—is imperative for their mental, physical, and financial well-being. Federal law provides only 15 days of paid leave on a Monday through Friday schedule, which is wholly inadequate,” said Patrick Yoes, National President, National Fraternal Order of Police. “The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) increases this to 20 days, but this still misses the mark for those who work weekends. Your legislation would increase that number to 36 days per fiscal year, allowing our public servants, many of whom work overtime to keep us and our communities safe, to be better positioned to prioritize their well-being and families.”
“The Supporting Federal Employees in the National Guard & Reserves Act recognizes the dual service of federal employees who also serve in the Reserves and National Guard, highlighting the significant personal sacrifices they make to fulfill their military obligations. It underscores the strain they experience due to the limited military leave available, often forcing them to use personal vacation time to meet their duty requirements and still be able to pay the bills,” said William M. Bowser, President, AFGE, Fort Walker Local 2902. “The bill in question aims to alleviate this burden by providing additional support, ensuring that these individuals can maintain financial stability while serving their country and still have time to spend with their families. This support would help these "silent heroes" balance their federal and military responsibilities without undue stress to themselves and more importantly, their families.”
Read the full bill text here.
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