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Washington, D.C.—The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) expressed strong support today for the bipartisan Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act, introduced by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) in the House and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in the Senate.

In a letter to Lynch, sent as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform marked up his bill, H.R. 313, today, NTEU National President Colleen M. Kelley noted that the measure would allow newly-hired disabled veterans to use advanced sick leave when receiving treatment for their service-related injuries and illnesses.

“The federal government is a proud employer of our nation’s veterans—with NTEU long championing agencies making use of hiring processes that retain veterans’ preference—and your bill will assure that these men and women continue to receive the care and attention they deserve once they are in the door,” Kelley wrote. “The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act will eliminate the need for these newly-hired employees to be forced to take leave without pay for medical appointments, and does so without creating any new costs for agencies or taxpayers.”

H.R. 313 has six co-sponsors—Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C), Gerald Connolly, (D-Va.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-N.C.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).

The Senate bill, S. 242, is co-sponsored by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.