Schneider Bill Expands FMLA to Cover Loss of a Child
WASHINGTON -- Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10), along with Congressmen Don Beyer (VA-08) and Sean Casten (IL-06), introduced the Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act, a bill to ensure that parents who have lost a child are entitled to 12 weeks of bereavement leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Currently, FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain life events, such as birth or adoption, a serious health condition, or to care for an immediate family member. During this leave, an employer cannot terminate an employee who qualifies for such leave. However, there are no such protection for parents grieving the loss of a child.
The Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act would amend the FMLA to add “death of a son or daughter” to the list of eligible life events for unpaid leave and allow parents the time to grieve without the fear of losing their jobs. The bill is named in memory of Sarah Grace Weippert, Noah and Katie Farley, and Erica Kluger, whose parents have worked tirelessly to ensure other grieving parents who have lost a child are afforded the time to heal in the face of unimaginable loss.
“The death of a child is an unthinkable loss. Grieving parents should not have to worry about their job stability during such a terrible time,” said Rep. Schneider. “I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to update to the Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure parents can take the time off they need to grieve and heal. By guaranteeing unpaid bereavement leave, we can give grieving parents some peace of mind. The families after whom this bill is named have turned their tragic loss into advocacy on behalf of other families experiencing the same loss and I’m inspired by their strength.”
“No parent should face the choice between grieving the loss of a child and maintaining their job or economic stability,” said Rep. Beyer. “Including parental bereavement as part of the FMLA is one of the most compassionate actions we can take to support grieving families experiencing the unimaginable. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation and urge my colleagues to support it.”
“The loss of a child is unbearable,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “Any parent enduring such heartbreak deserves the time and space to grieve and heal. I’m honored to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to ensure parents have support during such a profound loss.”
“On behalf of grieving parents, and in memory of Noah and Katie Farley, Erica Kluger and Sarah Grace Weippert, we thank the sponsors of this bill for their compassion and common sense approach to American workers who suffer the loss of a child," said Kelly Farley and Barry Kluger, authors of the Farley-Kluger Initiative. "This legislation will enable those who suffer this tragedy to take the time necessary to deal with this loss and be productive colleagues and employees, not to mention stronger family members."
The bill text is here.