Reps. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Janelle Bynum of Oregon introduced the Supporting VA Families Act (H.R. 8041) on Apr. 1, a bipartisan bill that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs employees an additional four weeks of unpaid leave for newborn children.
The legislation aims to provide more support for VA staff by recognizing the importance of parental bonding during the earliest days after childbirth. Supporters say this measure will help retain skilled staff at the VA and ensure high-quality care for veterans.
“As a father, I know how precious those early days with a newborn are, especially for families balancing demanding careers,” Ciscomani said. “Parents should have the ability to spend that time with their children. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Supporting VA Families Act to ensure that those who care for our veterans can be present for their families, just as they are for our nation every day.”
Bynum said, “VA workers are on the frontlines of delivering on our country’s promises to veterans. They deserve access to family leave to ensure the VA can retain staff and keep providing high-quality care to our veterans. I am proud to introduce these two bipartisan bills to ensure we are treating our veterans and public servants with the respect they deserve.” The bill underscores national values by supporting those who serve both in their professional roles and at home.
Ciscomani is currently serving in Congress representing Arizona’s 6th district after replacing Ann Kirkpatrick in 2023, according to official records from Congress.gov. He has held this position since 2023 as noted by Ballotpedia.com.
Ciscomani was born in Hermosillo, Mexico in 1982 and currently lives in Tucson; he graduated from the University of Arizona in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree as reported by Ballotpedia.com.
In recent elections, Ciscomani defeated Kirsten Engel twice: first in 2022 with a margin of about one percentage point according to Ballotpedia.com, then again in 2024 winning narrowly by roughly two-and-a-half points also reported by Ballotpedia.com.
