LANSING – State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) on Tuesday voted for a plan to protect the families of Michigan servicemembers killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Charlie's Bill" requires employers to provide a brief period of paid bereavement leave for a spouse, parent or child of a servicemember killed on active duty.
"Our men and women in uniform sacrifice everything to protect us and our freedom," Byrum said. "The families of our fallen soldiers often do not know when their loved one's remains will be returned to them, which forces them to wait before making funeral arrangements. The least we can do for these families is to let them know that their paycheck is still coming and that their jobs are protected."
"Charlie's Bill" is named in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Charles "Charlie" Drier of Tuscola County, who was killed during combat in Iraq in May 2005. He was 28. The plan requires employers to grant paid bereavement leave of up to 10 days or 80 hours. It also prohibits an employer from firing or punishing any employee who requests or takes the leave.
The legislation passed the House by a vote of 105 to 1 and now heads to the Senate.
"We owe our military men and women a debt of gratitude that can never be paid," Byrum said. "'Charlie's Bill' shows our military families that we are here for them, we support them in their time of greatest need, and that we recognize the sacrifices they make to keep us safe. I applaud my colleagues for supporting this plan, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act quickly on this important legislation."