WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration proposed new rules Monday to help military families care for service members when they are called to active duty or become injured.
The proposal expands eligibility under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows employees to take unpaid leave for certain medical or family reasons.
First lady Michelle Obama joined Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to announce the plan, which would allow caregivers to take leave to care for family members up to five years after they leave the military. Current law only covers family members of those currently serving in the military.
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"We want to recognize the extraordinary dedication, sacrifice and service of our nation's caregivers, not simply with words but with deeds," Obama said during a Labor Department ceremony attended by dozens of military members and their families.
The rules would also expand leave to cover family members of those in the regular armed forces, not just families of National Guard members and reservists.
"Many service members come home stressed, ill and injured," Solis said. "They need attention, care and support from the people that love them most."
The proposal would let family members take up to 12 weeks of leave from work to help a service member deployed on short notice. Family caregivers could attend military functions, deal with child care issues, or make financial and legal arrangements without fear of losing their jobs.
It would also give family members up to 26 weeks of leave to care for recent veterans who were injured or became ill in the line of duty. That includes conditions that don't arise until after a veteran has left military service.
The plan expands from five days to 15 days the amount of time an employee can take off work to spend with a service member who is on leave to rest or recuperate.
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