PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6311
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-25: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T21:55:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act" (H.R. 6311) aims to support federal employees whose spouses serve in the uniformed services (such as the military) or the Foreign Service by providing them with paid leave to handle relocations triggered by their spouse's permanent change of station (PCS). A PCS is an official reassignment to a new duty location or homeport for service members or diplomats. This legislation seeks to ease the challenges of such moves for these families.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility and Leave Amount: Federal employees who are spouses of uniformed services members or Foreign Service personnel and must relocate due to their spouse's PCS are entitled to at least 40 hours of paid leave. Part-time or non-standard schedule employees receive a proportional amount based on their regular hours. Agency heads may grant additional leave if appropriate.
- Usage Rules:
- The leave is in addition to other types of federal leave (like annual or sick leave).
- It can only be used for activities directly related to the move, such as packing or settling in the new location.
- It must be taken during the employee's normal work hours and can be used intermittently or on a reduced schedule.
- It expires no later than one month after the move and cannot be carried over or converted to cash payment.
- Leave is available for each PCS but does not accumulate for future use.
- Notice Requirement: Employees must submit a copy of their spouse's PCS orders when requesting the leave.
- Broad Definition of Employee: Covers most federal civilian workers, including temporary or term employees, those at the U.S. Postal Service, Postal Regulatory Commission, and certain veterans' affairs positions. It specifically includes spouses of Foreign Service members employed outside the Department of State.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends title 5 of the United States Code (which governs federal employee personnel matters) by adding a new section, 6329e, to subchapter II of chapter 63. This creates a dedicated category for PCS leave, which did not previously exist in federal law. It also updates the table of sections for easy reference. No existing leave benefits are reduced; this is purely additive.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Employing agencies will need to administer this new leave type, including verifying PCS orders and tracking usage, which may add minor administrative workload. However, it could improve employee morale and retention, especially for those in high-mobility roles.
- On Citizens: Primarily benefits federal employees (and their families) facing frequent relocations due to spousal service, reducing financial stress from unpaid time off during moves. It does not directly affect non-federal citizens but supports military and diplomatic families broadly.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may indirectly aid Foreign Service operations by helping retain skilled federal spouses who support U.S. diplomatic efforts abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Employees: Especially those married to active-duty military personnel, reservists, or Foreign Service officers, who gain flexibility during PCS relocations.
- Uniformed Services and Foreign Service Members: Their spouses' ability to manage moves without losing pay could strengthen family stability, potentially improving service member focus and retention.
- Federal Agencies: Such as the Office of Personnel Management (for oversight), individual departments (e.g., Defense, State), and the Postal Service, which must implement and fund the leave.
- Military and Diplomatic Families: Broader support for work-life balance in these communities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill expands federal employee benefits under title 5 without conflicting with existing labor laws. It ensures equal application across agencies, including exceptions for certain positions (e.g., overriding some veterans' affairs restrictions), promoting consistency in federal employment rules.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; it aligns with Congress's authority to regulate federal employee compensation and benefits under Article I. It does not infringe on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for military and veteran families (introduced by Democrats but with cross-party cosponsorship). It could influence future legislation on family support for public servants, emphasizing retention in government service amid workforce challenges. The bill's focus on PCS addresses a practical gap, potentially reducing turnover costs for the government.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-25: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-11-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act — issued 2025-11-25 — PDF (5 pages)