Cantwell Urges Top Admiral to Increase Maternity Leave Policies for Coast Guard Women
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to the Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Paul Zukunft, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) requested the implementation of an 18-week maternity leave policy consistent with that of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, to extend the proven benefits of increased leave time after childbirth to women service members of the Coast Guard.
“Improving maternity leave is a wise investment in military women and their families,” said Cantwell. “Advancing maternity leave policies is a solid step toward ensuring we are living up to that goal and retaining talented women in all services, including the women serving our country in the Coast Guard.”
In a recent report, The Economics of Paid and Unpaid Leave, the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers found that extended maternity leave polices improve the health of mothers and children, while improving the retention of talented women in the workforce. Along with a growing number of private sector companies, this month the U.S. Navy announced important new policy that triples maternity leave to 18-weeks for all active duty women serving in the United States Navy and the Marine Corps.
Last month, Cantwell proposed an amendment to the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S.1611) to require the Coast Guard to ensure parity between Coast Guard maternity leave, and maternity leave policies in the U.S. Navy or the Department of Defense, whichever is greater. Cantwell’s amendment successfully passed out of committee and awaits consideration by the full Senate. However, the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard have the authority to increase maternity leave without Congressional authorization.
Full letter text below and here.
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 write to request that you implement an 18-week maternity leave policy consistent with the Navy and Marine Corps to support the brave women serving in the United States Coast Guard. This month, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced important improvements to maternity leave policies for active duty women serving in the United States Navy and the Marine Corps (ALNAV 053/15). These new policies tripled the duration of maternity leave to 18 weeks in an effort to enhance retention of talented women. I commend the Secretary for taking this bold step to improve support for women who proudly serve, and urge the U.S. Coast Guard to extend the same benefit to the women in their service.
Improving maternity leave is a wise investment in military women and their families. As one service member said to me, “women should never have to choose between serving their country, and serving their families.” Advancing maternity leave policies is a solid step toward ensuring we are living up to that goal and retaining talented women in all services, including the women serving our country in the Coast Guard.
A report conducted by the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, The Economics of Paid and Unpaid Leave, found that robust maternity leave polices improve the health of mothers and children. Further, expanded maternity leave duration has shown to increase the retention of talented women in the workforce. More simply put, it is good business to increase maternity leave, which is why a growing number of private sector companies in the United States have elected to do so. When Google expanded their maternity leave program from 3 months to 5 months, new mom attrition fell by half.
Last month. I proposed an amendment to S.1611, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2016 and 2017 to require the Coast Guard to adopt and implement any maternity leave policies consistent with the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense, if the other service has a greater maternity leave policy than the Coast Guard. My amendment passed by voice vote and is now included in the bipartisan bill awaiting consideration by the full Senate. The Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard have the authority to increase maternity leave without Congressional authorization. To this end, I urge you to increase the Coast Guard maternity leave policy for active duty women to 18 weeks to ensure we offer the hard working women of the Coast Guard and their families the greatest opportunity possible.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
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