To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees.

Delia C. Ramirez

Democrat · IL · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Subcommittee Hearings Held

2026-03-25

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would expand the definition of "parent" for VA employees seeking family and medical leave, allowing them to take time off to care for individuals who aren't their biological or adoptive parents but have served a parental role in their lives. The change would let VA workers use federal family leave benefits for people like stepparents, grandparents, or other family members who raised them, making the leave policy more flexible for employees with non-traditional family structures.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7948 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7948 To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 16, 2026 Mrs. Ramirez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FAMILY MEMBERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMPLOYEES FOR PURPOSES OF FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 7421 of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, a parent of the spouse of a covered employee shall, for the purposes of determining eligibility for the entitlement of the covered employee to leave under section 6382(a)(1)(C) of title 5, United States Code, be deemed as a parent of the covered employee. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (1) The term ``covered employee'' means an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including an employee who is appointed in the Veterans Health Administration under any provision of chapter 74 of such title on a full-time basis in a position listed in section 7421(b) of such title). (2) The terms ``employee'' and ``parent'' have the meanings given such terms in section 6381 of title 5, United States Code. <all>

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