What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act This bill makes federal civilian and military personnel who are excepted from furlough during a government shutdown eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. During a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations, federal employees who are excepted from furlough are required to report for work and perform duties, but their pay is delayed until appropriations legislation is enacted. Under guidance issued by the Department of Labor, excepted employees who are performing services (but whose payment for that work is delayed) are generally ineligible for unemployment compensation benefits based on states' definitions of unemployment. This bill provides that, for the purpose of determining eligibility for unemployment compensation during a government shutdown, excepted employees are deemed to be (1) totally separated from federal service, and (2) eligible for unemployment compensation benefits with no waiting period for the eligibility to accrue. The bill applies to the following federal personnel who are excepted from furlough and are not being paid due to a government shutdown: (1) any member of the Armed Forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and (2) any federal civilian employee who is an excepted employee or an employee performing emergency work.
Action Timeline
2025-03-10
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
2025-03-10
Introduced in House
2025-03-10
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.1988 pass?
HR.1988 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: 40%.
What does HR.1988 do?
Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act This bill makes federal civilian and military personnel who are excepted from furlough during a government shutdown eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. During a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations, federal employees who are excepted from furlough are required to report for work and perform duties, but their pay is delayed until appropriations legislation is enacted. Under guidance issued by the Department of Labor, excepted employees who are performing services (but whose payment for that work is delayed) are generally in…
Who sponsored HR.1988?
HR.1988 was sponsored by Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 1988 IH: Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-03-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1988 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 10, 2025 Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Ms. DelBene , Ms. Tlaib , Mrs. McIver , Ms. Velázquez , and Ms. Sewell ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify that Federal civilian and military personnel excepted from a furlough during a Government shutdown are eligible for unemployment compensation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pay Federal Workers and Servicemembers Act . 2. Eligibility for unemployment compensation for Federal civilian and military personnel excepted from furlough during Government shutdown (a) Federal civilian employees (1) In general Subchapter I of chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 8510. Eligibility for unemployment compensation for Federal personnel excepted from furlough during Government shutdown (a) In general With respect to any lapse in appropriations beginning on or after March 14, 2025, each covered employee shall be, solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for unemployment compensation under this subchapter or subchapter II (as the case may be), deemed for the duration of the lapse in appropriations to be— (1) totally separated from Federal service; and (2) eligible for unemployment compensation benefits under the applicable subchapter with no waiting period for such eligibility to accrue. (b) Covered employee defined In this section, the term covered employee means any of the following Federal personnel who are excepted from furlough and are not being paid due to a lapse in appropriations: (1) Any member of the Armed Forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Any Federal civilian employee who is an excepted employee or an employee performing emergency work, as such terms are defined by the Office of Personnel Management. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections for such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 8510. Eligibility for unemployment compensation for Federal personnel excepted from furlough during Government shutdown. . (a) Application The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after March 14, 2025.
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