03.01.17

Cantwell Pushes for Expanded Family Leave in Coast Guard

Senator calls for paid leave benefits for new fathers, adoptive parents, same sex couples, and dual military families

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) wrote a letter to the Commandant of the Coast Guard calling for the expansion of paid family leave policies to include benefits for same sex couples, dual military couples, and adoptive parents. The letter to Admiral Paul Zukunft also asks for an increase in paternity leave for Coast Guard fathers.

Strong family leave policies have been shown to create a more effective workforce in a variety of industries, and the Coast Guard should be no exception. Such policies not only show benefits for the health of parents and children, but also improve retention of personnel.

“I urge you to work with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy to enact expanded leave polices to ensure all Coast Guard members have the opportunity to better support their families,” wrote Senator Cantwell. “[Family leave] policies are crucial for parents to care for their new child, and ensure the Coast Guard can retain their best and brightest.” 

In her letter, Senator Cantwell encouraged Admiral Zukunft to use his authority to act on several family leave policy expansions authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2017 (NDAA).  Specifically, the senator called for action on:

  • An increase of secondary caregiver (same sex spouses, fathers) family leave, for the birth of a child from 10 days to 21 days.
  • An increase of primary caregiver family leave for the adoption of a child from 21 days to 6 weeks.
  • Elimination of provisions allowing only one member of the armed forces family leave when two members of the armed forces are pursuing adoption of a child.
  • Authorization of 21 days of family leave for secondary caregivers for the adoption of a child.

Senator Cantwell has been a leader in advocating on behalf of Washington’s Coast Guard families and Guard issues nationwide. In 2016, she secured a major victory, convincing the Coast Guard to double its maternity leave from 6 weeks to twelve weeks. Most recently, she pushed the Coast Guard Commandant to provide local healthcare access to Coastie families in remote areas of Southwest Washington and Northern Oregon. The families had traveling hundreds of miles to access care.

Full text of the letter can be found below.

March 1, 2017

Admiral Paul F. Zukunft

Commandant

United States Coast Guard

2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Stop 7816

Washington, DC 20593-7816

Dear Admiral Zukunft:

I respectfully request you to expand the Coast Guard paid family leave policy to incorporate benefits for same sex couples, dual military couples, adoptive parents, and increase paternity leave for the birth and adoption of a child. These policies are crucial for parents to care for their new child, and ensure the Coast Guard can retain their best and brightest. I have long fought to improve quality of life opportunities for men and women serving in the Coast Guard and their families, including securing passage of an amendment last year to double paid maternity leave for Coast Guard members.

I was pleased to see in the February 2, 2016, ALCOAST (036/16) Duty to People-Change to Maternity Leave Policy, that you committed to seeking the authorities needed to increase paid paternity and adoption leave benefits, including benefits for same sex couples and dual military couples. The National Defense Authorization Act for 2017, or “NDAA”, (P.L. 114-328) and the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-120), grants the Coast Guard, and the Secretaries of the armed forces, the authority to strengthen family benefits for active duty members.

Specifically, the NDAA authorizes:

  • An increase of secondary caregiver (same sex spouses, fathers) family leave, for the birth of a child from 10 days to 21 days.
  • An increase of primary caregiver family leave for the adoption of a child from 21 days to 6 weeks.
  • Elimination of provisions allowing only one member of the armed forces family leave when two members of the armed forces are pursuing adoption of a child.
  • Authorization of 21 days of family leave for secondary caregivers for the adoption of a child.

A 2014 report conducted by the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, The Economics of Paid and Unpaid Leave, found that strong family leave policies improve the health of parents and children. Further, expanded family leave has proven to be an effective retention tool. More simply put, it is good business to increase family leave, which is why a growing number of private sector companies have elected to do so. For example, Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Bank of America all offer a minimum of 12 weeks of family leave to both parents for the birth or adoption of a child.

I also have two concerns that I would like to bring to your attention. I have heard from many Coast Guard families and commanding officers that allowing mothers to take leave in increments is important for families and the Coast Guard. Incremental leave allows for alternating care arrangements between parents, affords members the opportunity to participate in necessary Coast Guard trainings and certifications, facilitates a family’s ability to attend important newborn doctor’s appointments, and supports other important family and Coast Guard activities. While the NDAA authorizes you to restrict incremental leave, I request that you retain this benefit in the existing Coast Guard leave policy to provide families the flexibility they need to support their mission at home, and in the Coast Guard. I also ask you to decline the discretionary authority to require family leave to be charged against the balance of a member’s leave, or require an additional service obligation based on the duration of family leave taken. This would unduly put pressure on members to take less family leave, diminishing members’ comfort in taking leave to support their health and the health of their child without questions, pressure or stigma.

We must expand and modernize paid family leave coverage for active duty members of the Coast Guard, including fathers, same sex couples, dual military families and adoptive families. I urge you to work with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy to enact enhanced leave policies to ensure all Coast Guard members have the opportunity to better support their families. Thank you for the improvements to family polices that you have already made in your time as Commandant, and thank you for continuing to work to improve the quality of life of all Coast Guard members. I look forward to working with you to support Coast Guard members and their families.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell               

U.S. Senator

Copy:

Master Chief Steven W. Cantrell, Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard

Vice Admiral Sandra L. Stosz, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, U.S. Coast Guard

Vice Admiral Fred M. Midgette, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area

Rear Admiral Mark E. Butt, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard District 13

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