U.S. Sens.

Bob Casey, D-Pa., and

Russ Feingold, D-Wis., introduced legislation Tuesday to help reduce the burden on military families by providing them with increased flexibility in the use of their leave time at work.The Military Family Support Act would authorize federal employees who have been designated as "caregivers" by the Armed Forces to use their previously earned leave time in a more flexible manner.Last year, the Senate passed virtually identical legislation offered by Feingold and former Sen.

Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., but the language was stripped in conference."This bill,"Casey said, "will allow family members of our service men and women time off to help prepare them for deployment or help with the burden of taking care of their children when a single parent is deployed."The MFSA, supported by the National Military Family Association, would create two pilot programs to provide additional leave options for persons who have been designated as caregivers.The bill would require the Office of Personnel Management to set up a program that allows caregivers who are federal employees to use leave time available to them for purposes directly relating to or resulting from their designation as a caregiver.This bill would also require the Secretary of Labor to establish a voluntary program so private sector companies would create similar opportunities for their employees and to solicit participation from private sector companies.———U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, was joined Monday by representatives from the Business and Professional Women at the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce to announce legislation to encourage individuals to save for their future in life-contingent annuities."With more than 77 million baby boomers prepared to retire in 2008, Congress needs to begin to adopt policies that will address the current challenges of retirement security," said English, co-chairman of the Congressional Savings and Ownership Caucus.The Retirement Security for Life Act, English said, would provide a tax incentive to individuals when they invest in a life-contingent annuity and opt to receive a guaranteed stream of income, or '"paycheck for life."Specifically, the measure would exclude federal taxes on half of the annual income from a life annuity, up to a maximum of $20,000. The typical middle class taxpayer in the 25 percent tax bracket would save $5,000 in taxes each year.———The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has extended the Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program to provide a one-time loan forgiveness benefit to servicemen and servicewomen, said state Rep.

Brian Ellis, R-11th.The Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program was created to recognize the bravery, dedication and loyalty of servicemen and servicewomen who served in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. This program has since been extended seven times.The program provides a one-time loan forgiveness benefit of up to $2,500 for student borrowers who served in the Armed Forces in an active duty status between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2007.Applicants must have an eligible, non-defaulted loan such as a PHEAA Guaranteed Loan, an AES Stafford, Consolidation, PLUS, or SLS loan. These loans must be disbursed on or before Sept. 31, 2007.Eligible applicants must meet one of three following criteria:• A current resident or a state resident who was living in Pennsylvania at the time of enlistment and was in the military continuously through at least Sept. 11, 2001, regardless of current residence.• A non-resident of Pennsylvania who left a Pennsylvania-approved institution of post-secondary education due to a call to active duty.• A non-resident of Pennsylvania who enlisted in the military immediately after attending a Pennsylvania-approved institution of post-secondary education.More information, including applications for the Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program, is available by contacting Ellis' office at 724-283-5852, or by visiting Ellis's Web site at www.RepEllis.com———U.S. Sen.

Bob Casey, D-Pa., on Tuesday received the "Champion for Pennsylvania's Children" award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers and Multi-Disciplinary Teams.The award was presented to Casey for his work in the U.S. Senate and in state government.Alison Gray, chapter coordinator of the Children's Advocacy Centers group, noted that Casey in May introduced the Prepare All Kids Act.The bill would assist states in providing at least one year of high quality pre-kindergarten to children. The plan calls for a new federal investment to be accompanied by matching funds from the states.