Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, which would provide four weeks of paid parental leave and eight weeks of unpaid leave for all federal employees after the birth or adoption of a child.  Under this measure, these employees may also use accrued annual or sick leave to receive compensation for the unpaid weeks.  Currently, employees may take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a newborn or adopted child. 

H.R. 626 will help the United States government compete with the private sector in order to recruit the best and brightest employees and retain that talent.  In 2007, a Government Accountability Office report found that countries offering paid parental leave experienced increased employee retention and a reduction in the amount of time women spend out of the workforce.  Disappointingly, the GAO also reported that the U.S. lags behind other industrial nations in providing policies that support working parents and their children.  In fact, 169 countries guarantee women leave with income in connection with childbirth. 

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that women are more likely to work before and after pregnancy than they were 30 to 40 years ago, and Congress must legislate according to the changing makeup of our workforce.  So far, we have not met that mark.  I know that many of my colleagues have already met or exceeded the requirements of this bill, and I applaud their efforts.  I know from firsthand experience that allowing new parents guaranteed paid leave helps balance the demands between work and family.  For the hard work they provide for us, we owe our employees the time to enjoy the bonds that matter most in their lives. 

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure.  It is time that the federal government sets the standard for working parent policies.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.