I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3838 

To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment 

to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 18, 2019 

Ms. HAALAND (for herself, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. 

SERRANO, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. 

BROWNLEY of California, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. RUSH, Ms. ROYBALALLARD, and Mr. CARBAJAL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers 

with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Honoring Family5 Friendly Workplaces Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) EMPLOYEE; EMPLOYER.—The terms ‘‘em2 ployee’’ and ‘‘employer’’ have the meanings given 

3 such terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards 

4 Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203). 

5 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

6 the Secretary of Labor. 

7 SEC. 3. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 

9 national certification program to award certifications to 

10 recognize employers that have a commitment to helping 

11 employees balance employment responsibilities and family 

12 obligations (referred to in this section as ‘‘family-friendly 

13 certifications’’). 

14 (b) CRITERIA FOR CERTIFICATION.—In order to be 

15 eligible to receive a family-friendly certification, an em16 ployer must carry out each of the following family-friendly 

17 employment policies and benefits: 

18 (1) Assistance paying for, or referring employ19 ees to, fertility or adoption services. 

20 (2) Paid family leave of not less than 12 weeks 

21 per year, including the option to use leave for any 

22 of the following reasons: 

23 (A) The birth of a son or daughter of the 

24 employee and in order to care for such son or 

25 daughter. 


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1 (B) The placement of a son or daughter 

2 with the employee for adoption or foster care. 

3 (C) To address the employee’s own serious 

4 health condition, including pregnancy or child5 birth. 

6 (D) To address the serious health condi7 tion (as defined in section 101 of the Family 

8 and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 

9 2611)) of a family member. 

10 (E) For specific military caregiving and 

11 leave. 

12 (3) Paid sick days for employees that are sepa13 rate from time accrued as part of a paid time off 

14 policy. 

15 (4) A subsidy for child care or policies that 

16 allow parents to work alongside their infants in safe 

17 settings. 

18 (5) Policies that allow for flexible hours once a 

19 parent returns to work after a birth, adoption, or 

20 foster care placement. 

21 (6) If feasible, policies that allow employees to 

22 work remotely as needed for reasons related to the 

23 care of a child. 

24 (7) Lactation support, such as reimbursement 

25 of expressed breastmilk delivery while on travel, acVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Jul 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3838.IH H3838

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1 cess to pumps, kits, and other lactation supplies and 

2 amenities, and access to lactation consultants and 

3 support. 

4 (c) APPLICATION.—An employer who desires to re5 ceive a family-friendly certification from the Secretary 

6 under this section shall submit an application to the Sec7 retary at such time, containing such information, and in 

8 such manner as the Secretary may require. 

9 (d) AWARD OF CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall 

10 review applications submitted under subparagraph (c) and 

11 award a family-friendly certification to an employer whose 

12 application demonstrates that the employer has met the 

13 requirements established under subsection (b) regarding 

14 family-friendly policies and benefits. 

15 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

16 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

17 such sums as may be necessary. 

Æ 


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