To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees

Progress

Timeline

• Mar 25Subcommittee Hearings Held
• Mar 16Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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.

Summary

**What it does:** This bill would expand the definition of "parent" for VA employees when they apply for family and medical leave under federal law. **Who it affects:** Department of Veterans Affairs employees who need to take time off to care for certain individuals they consider parental figures but who may not qualify as "parents" under current federal definitions. **What would change:** Currently, federal family and medical leave laws have specific definitions of who counts as a "parent" for leave purposes. This bill would allow VA employees to use family and medical leave to care for additional individuals who served in a parental role in their lives, even if they don't meet the standard legal definition (such as step-parents, grandparents who raised them, or other guardian figures). The bill is currently under review in congressional committee and has not yet become law.

How This Affects You