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Washington, D.C.—As Father’s Day nears, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) is pressing Congress to support paid parental leave for moms and dads welcoming new babies, adopted children or foster children.

NTEU’s Father’s Day parental leave campaign includes the publication of an editorial opinion piece, outreach to members of Congress in conjunction with other federal unions, and a social media effort encouraging federal employees and their families to contact Congress in support of identical bills in the House and Senate.

In a commentary appearing on Federal News Radio’s web site (www.federalnewsradio.com), NTEU National President Tony Reardon outlines the health and relationship benefits that come from early bonding, as well as societal benefits such as decreased infant mortality and a reduction in the need for public assistance. The father of four makes the case for paid family leave by sharing stories about the hardship inadequate leave policies place on new families.

“My Father’s Day wish is for Congress to pass the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act,” Reardon writes.

The NTEU leader points out that nearly every industrialized nation, except the United States, offers paid leave to mothers and many offer the same to fathers. He urges support for H.R. 532, introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), and S. 2033, introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). Both bills would provide six weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees to care for their new biological, adopted or foster children.

NTEU is joining with other federal unions in contacting every member of Congress to share a Father’s Day postcard featuring photos of union families urging passage of the legislation.

The union has also taken to Twitter and Facebook with a campaign encouraging followers and fans to take action and contact their members of Congress.

NTEU represents 150,000 federal employees at 31 federal agencies.