Bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding leave benefits for officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps has passed the Senate with unanimous consent. The bill, known as the Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act, was introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
Currently, PHS officers do not have access to certain leave benefits that are available to other federal uniformed services. These include extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave, and rest and recuperation leave. The new legislation seeks to address this disparity by granting PHS officers the same authorized leave as members of the Armed Services.
Senator Murkowski stated, “I was proud to help lead the effort to advance the Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act, first in the HELP Committee and then on the Senate floor, bringing us one step closer to fixing this longstanding inequity. Our Public Health Service officers stand on the front lines during national crises—from public health emergencies to natural disasters—and deserve the same benefits afforded to their fellow uniformed service members.”
Senator Duckworth added, “When disease or disaster threatens our public safety, PHS officers are on the front lines helping keep the American people healthy and out of harm’s way—there’s no reason they shouldn’t have the same leave benefits that officers of the Army, Navy or any of our other uniformed services do. This bipartisan legislation would help ensure these devoted health professionals have equal access to the benefits they deserve, and I’m proud it passed the Senate by unanimous consent.”
The current gap in leave benefits has made it harder for the PHS to recruit and retain qualified professionals, which can affect the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies such as natural disasters and disease outbreaks. The bill aims to improve both the wellbeing of PHS officers and the country’s preparedness for future public health crises.
