Twenty-five years after his daughter Erica was killed in a car crash in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barry Kluger is still fighting for a federal policy that would give grieving parents time off work. On the anniversary of her death, Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) introduced the latest version of legislation that would add the loss of a child to the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The bill, named the Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger-Barklage Act, marks the eighth attempt to pass what began as the Farley-Kluger Initiative in 2011. Kluger, now 72, started the effort at age 58 and has watched it stall repeatedly despite bipartisan support.
“This will be that pivotal moment when we see just how much the various delegations are committed to working on legislation that focuses on an everyday tragedy of life,” Kluger wrote in a statement accompanying the bill’s reintroduction. A “Dear Colleague” letter has been circulated to House members, and a companion Senate bill is in the works.
Under current law, the Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a seriously ill family member. But it does not cover bereavement. Kluger points out the irony: “Twelve weeks off for having a child and caring for a sick family member, but not even a week to bury that child.”
Most U.S. employers offer three to five paid days for the death of an immediate family member, and one to three days for extended family. But these policies are voluntary, not federally mandated. Workers often must dip into personal or vacation time for additional leave, or take unpaid days.
The bill has attracted high-profile sponsors in past sessions but has never made it out of committee for a floor vote in either chamber. Kluger is pressing lawmakers to act, invoking President Lyndon Johnson’s famous question: “What the hell’s the presidency for?” Kluger reframes it for Congress: “What the hell’s holding political office for?”
Death, Kluger notes, cuts across political, religious, cultural, and racial lines. He acknowledges that some critics view the measure as excessive government intervention, but argues that mandating bereavement leave could boost morale and productivity. “Employees knowing employers give a damn—such compassion pays back big,” he said.
The push for bereavement leave comes at a time when Congress is also weighing other family and worker protections. For instance, a recent executive order expanding retirement access for uncovered workers signals a broader focus on workplace security. Meanwhile, state attorneys general have taken the lead on tech accountability, as Congress stalls on child safety legislation.
Kluger remains hopeful that the eighth time will be the charm. “Seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it?” he wrote. “I may not be a constituent of their districts, but I am a constituent of America.”
