Horsford: Public Servants Shouldn’t Pay for GOP Failure to Fund Government

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) today re-introduced the Pay Workers What They've Earned Act. The legislation would reimburse federal employees for fees, interest, and fines charged through no fault of their own during a government shutdown. It would also reimburse state and tribal governments for costs incurred during government shutdowns.

“If Republicans fail to fund the government, public servants will go without pay,” Rep. Horsford said. “Bills don’t go away; rent still comes due; living expenses don’t pause to accommodate political incompetence.

“A GOP shutdown would mean too many federal employees struggling to make ends meet, and too many state and local governments covering federal expenses,” Rep. Horsford continued. “The Pay Workers What They’ve Earned Act will ensure the federal government doesn’t leave others with its bills, and ensures public servants have the support they need during uncertain times.”

The Pay Workers What They've Earned Act is endorsed by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and The National Education Association (NEA). 

"NTEU strongly endorses the Pay Workers What They've Earned Act because it recognizes that a government shutdown unfairly harms federal employees and their families," Doreen Greenwald, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union said. "During a shutdown, federal employee paychecks are delayed but their household bills keep coming, so our members are sometimes forced to run up their credit card debt or take out short-term loans just to make ends meet. This legislation would ease some of their anxiety and we thank Rep. Horsford for his leadership."

During previous government shutdowns, many states had to use their own resources to cover the federal government's lapse in appropriations for critical programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and housing assistance.

Many people on the federal payroll, from military servicemembers to air traffic controllers to TSA agents at the airport, are required to work without regular paychecks, forcing some to take short-term, high-interest loans to make ends meet.

 

The Pay Workers What They've Earned Act would:

Cover Family Costs
Provide compensation to federal employees and contractors during a lapse in appropriations to cover the fees, interest and fines incurred due to the lapse in appropriations by setting up a reimbursement verification mechanism with the Department of Treasury.

Ensure the federal government reimburses states that have used state budget funds to cover federal programs within 90 days after a shutdown.

Create a reserve fund for Federal Employees and Contractors who are furloughed during any future shutdowns.