In July 2015, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus created a policy that granted sailors and marines 18 weeks of paid maternity leave. In a country where paid maternity leave is not mandated by law much less the norm, this act was revolutionary. Unfortunately, a new mandate was set in place by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter that reduces maternity leave for sailors and marines by 6 weeks. This petition urges the Administration to reinstate the 18 week maternity leave policy. Additionally, this petition urges the Administration to meet the Navy and Marine standards of 18 weeks of paid maternity leave for all branches of the military. The United States is currently the only industrialized nation without mandated paid maternity leave. Let’s have the Armed Forces lead the fight for family rights!
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