arrow_back Back to App

Expanded Parental Leave and Post-Childbirth Support for Servicemembers

This act expands parental leave for servicemembers, including foster caregivers. It introduces new rules for physical fitness after childbirth and reduces the service commitment for career intermission programs. These changes aim to better support military families and help balance service with family life.
Key points
Primary caregiver leave for birth or adoption extended from 12 to 18 weeks.
Secondary caregiver leave for birth or adoption extended from 21 days to 12 weeks.
Introduction of 12 weeks of leave for foster caregivers (both primary and secondary) for long-term foster child placements.
Parental leave can now be taken in multiple increments, not just one.
Female servicemembers who give birth may be exempt from body composition standards or physical fitness tests for 12 months, with military healthcare provider approval and at their election or for national security reasons.
Service commitment for career intermission programs reduced from two months to one month.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Expired
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_1571
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Process start date: 2021-05-11
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Servicemember Parental Leave Equity Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_1571.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-05-11.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Primary caregiver leave for birth or adoption extended from 12 to 18 weeks.
  • Secondary caregiver leave for birth or adoption extended from 21 days to 12 weeks.
  • Introduction of 12 weeks of leave for foster caregivers (both primary and secondary) for long-term foster child placements.
  • Parental leave can now be taken in multiple increments, not just one.
  • Female servicemembers who give birth may be exempt from body composition standards or physical fitness tests for 12 months, with military healthcare provider approval and at their election or for national security reasons.
  • Service commitment for career intermission programs reduced from two months to one month.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2026-01-02.

CATEGORIES

Family Labor Security