A bipartisan Senate bill set to move U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps leave policies in line with those offered by the military services cleared a key committee last month, bringing long-sought parity one step closer to becoming law.

The Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act (S. 1440), introduced April 10, advanced through the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on July 31. The House version (H.R. 2846), introduced the same day, remains in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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The bill would offer extended parental leave, emergency leave, and other leave options that can be accessed by all federal employees and uniformed servicemembers aside from USPHS Commissioned Corps members, according to a press release announcing the Senate bill’s movement.

The MOAA-backed legislation will “help ensure these devoted health professionals have equal access to the benefits they deserve,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said in the release. Duckworth cosponsored the Senate version alongside Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska); the House version has been championed by Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), who also serve as chairman and ranking member, respectively, for the House Armed Services Committee’s Quality of Life panel.

Benefit parity is a crucial part of recruitment and retention for the USPHS, whose members are on the front lines of public health emergencies, provide vital support during disaster relief efforts, and serve alongside military members everywhere from the sea to the southern border.

The bill would make sure “all who serve our nation in times of crisis and disaster are treated equally under federal law,” Murkowski said.

MOAA has endorsed the legislation alongside the Commissioned Officers Association and the Reserve Organization of America (ROA). Add your voice to the cause, and keep up with the latest on this issue and other MOAA priorities at our Legislative Action Center.