Last month, Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) introduced the Federal Frontline Worker Leave Protection Act (H.R. 6733), which would restore annual leave that is lost by federal employees who respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. If passed, the bill would apply retroactively.

FMA endorsed the bill in a letter from President Craig Carter to Congresswoman Wexton. “Your legislation offers common-sense protections and assurances to essential federal employees on the frontline who cannot take time off due to the COVID-19 battle,” Carter wrote. “We are grateful for your efforts to modify current law responding to COVID-19 as an allowable exception, and to permit feds to carry over annual leave hours to the following year,” he continued. 

FMA also expressed support for H.R. 6733 in its monthly “Hear It from FMA” column in FEDManager.com, noting “the Department of Defense issued guidance for active-duty service members on April 16, 2020, allowing them to accrue more leave than normal and keep it through 2023.” 

“Service members are still encouraged to use leave in the year in which it is earned, but this rational guidance provides them with assurance that their leave will be preserved in this extraordinary time,” we argued. “FMA supports the policy at DOD and believes the federal workforce deserves a similar assurance.” 

H.R. 6733 was referred to the House Oversight and Reform Committee and currently has 14 cosponsors. To follow the bill’s progress, please click here.