Hinson, Cotton Reintroduce Bill to Provide Parental Leave and Resources for Miscarriages and Stillbirths

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) reintroduced the Helping with Equal Access to Leave and Investing in Needs for Grieving Mothers and Fathers Act, or HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act, to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include the unexpected and devastating loss of an unborn child as a qualifying medical condition for FMLA leave. The bill would also establish a tax credit for a woman who suffers the loss of a child in the womb.

“Under current law, parents don’t have the option to take family leave in the tragic event of a stillbirth. Families who endure such a horrific and painful loss of a baby deserve family leave options while they grieve and heal. As we continue working to end stillbirth and strengthen maternal care for expecting mothers, this legislation is a strong step in providing families with care and financial stability during one of the most challenging times in their lives.” – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

“This bill will make sure families receive the resources they need to help recover from the unexpected loss of a child. No amount of money can replace such a loss, but we can help ensure parents have time to begin the recovery process.” – Senator Tom Cotton

The HEALING Mothers and Fathers Act would:

• Amend the FMLA to include spontaneous loss of an unborn child as a qualified medical condition for FMLA leave and civil service employee leave.
  • Mothers and fathers would be entitled to take up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for the loss of an unborn child.
  • Spontaneous loss of an unborn child is defined in the bill as ‘the loss of a child in the womb that is unplanned and not resulting from a purposeful act.’
  • All requirements related to certification, notice, flexibility, and leave substitution are consistent with current standards for claiming FMLA leave.
• Establish a refundable tax credit for any mother or couple who suffers a stillbirth.
  • Stillbirth is defined as “the delivery of a child where there was a spontaneous death, not induced by any purposeful act, before the complete delivery from the child’s mother.”
  • A family would be eligible for the tax credit if a stillbirth certificate, under applicable state law, has been issued for the child.
  • These funds could not be used for any abortion procedure

Bill text can be found here. Click here to read exclusive reporting by The Daily Caller.

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