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S. 781Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Elaine M. Checketts Military Families Act of 2021

Sponsored by John CornynSen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
Introduced March 16, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 12:24 AM UTC

The Elaine M. Checketts Military Families Act of 2021 requires the Department of Defense to change its rules so that service members who are on paid parental leave do not lose that leave if their child dies. It applies to active‑duty members who are primary or secondary caregivers and have already been approved for parental leave.

Key Provisions

  • Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the Secretary of Defense must amend the regulations under 10 U.S.C. §701(i) and (j) to allow paid parental leave to continue even after the death of the child.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

March 16, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 16, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

March 16, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 16, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 781

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 16, 2021

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Braun, Mr. King, Mrs. Shaheen, and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To provide for the continuation of paid parental leave for members of the Armed Services in the event of the death of the child.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Elaine M. Checketts Military Families Act of 2021.

2.

Continuation of paid parental leave upon death of child

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall amend the regulations prescribed pursuant to subsections (i) and (j) of section 701 of title 10, United States Code, to provide that the eligibility of primary and secondary caregivers for paid parental leave that has already been approved shall not terminate upon the death of the child for whom such leave is taken.