Press Releases

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright re-introduced legislation that would guarantee leave for military families. The bipartisan Military Family Leave Act allows military families to spend time with a loved one who has received notification of impending active duty deployment.

Currently, parents, children, and spouses of military personnel are allowed 12 weeks of unpaid leave if a family member is notified of impending active duty in support of a contingency operation.  However, it excludes many individuals, such as those who work part time or are employed by a company with fewer than 50 employees. 

The Military Family Leave Act creates two workweeks of unpaid family leave for immediate family members of active duty service members who are exempted from getting such leave under existing law.  

“Military members and their families make great sacrifices in the name of our national security,” said Rep. Cartwright. “This legislation closes gaps in current law to provide family support to all service members called to active duty.”