Chair Lofgren on the Passage of House Resolution 1516

Washington, D.C. – Committee on House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) issued the following statement on the passage of House Resolution 1516  which approves certain regulations to implement provisions of the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) of 1995 and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, and extends these specific provisions to legislative branch staff:

“Every employee should have equal access to family and medical leave and other essential workplace rights. This resolution revises and expands the definition of spouse and provides parental leave for federal government employees, among other important reforms. As a former congressional staffer, and a longtime advocate of workers’ rights and protections I proudly support this resolution and will continue to support those who make our work on behalf of the American people possible.”

Specifically, the resolution:

• Revises and expands the definition of “spouse”, keeping in line with the Department of Labor and the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v. Hodges;

• Allows family of military service members to use FMLA leave to care for service members and certain veterans;

• Implements the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA) that was passed in December 2019 to provide parental leave for federal government employees, including legislative branch employees covered under the CAA.

• Adopts the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations updating the test to determine overtime pay, last updated in 1996.

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