Schneider Leads Bipartisan Reintroduction of Bill To Expand Family And Medical Leave Act To Cover Loss Of A Child

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (IL-10), Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), Don Beyer (VA-08), and French Hill (AR-02), reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help families grieving the loss of a child take time off work.

The "Parental Bereavement Act of 2021" or the "Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act" would add "death of a child" as a life event that would qualify for unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), allowing a grieving parent up to 12 weeks to mourn a child's loss and then return to work. The FMLA currently mandates up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain family events, including the birth of a child, during which an employer cannot terminate an employee who qualifies for such leave.

"The death of a child is an unimaginable loss like no other, yet our current laws leave no time for parents to grieve and begin the recovery process," said Rep. Schneider (IL-10). "I am proud to reintroduce this legislation making commonsense improvements to the Family and Medical Leave Act so employees can take the unpaid time off they need to care for their families and heal following such a tragic loss. I am particularly inspired by the families in whose memory this bill is named, who have turned the pain of the loss of a child into advocacy on behalf of other families facing the same unimaginable tragedy."

"Every time you hear of a parent losing one of their children, your heart sinks and you can't imagine the pain and suffering they are going through," said Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16). "In the event of a tragedy like this, parents should be allowed the proper time they need to grieve and mourn their loss without the fear of losing their job."

"Expanding the FMLA to include parental bereavement is the most compassionate action we can take to do something, no matter how small, to help bereaved families," said Rep. Beyer (VA-08). "This legislation is a good start to make a positive change and I'm proud to support it."

"I am proud to support this bill, as it would directly affect the daily lives of Americans that are grieving. The loss of a child is one of the most severe forms of grief a person can experience. Parents who undergo this tragedy deserve adequate time to mourn and to process," said Rep. French Hill (AR-02). "I am hopeful that parents and families will benefit from this important legislation."

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