Bill Introduced in Senate to Provide Retroactive Pay for Shutdown Furloughs

Following on the heels of similar legislation introduced in the House, the Senate has now introduced a bill that would provide retroactive pay to federal employees who are furloughed by the shutdown.

Following on the heels of similar legislation introduced in the House, the Senate has now introduced a bill that would provide retroactive pay to federal employees who are furloughed by the shutdown.

Known as the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act (S. 1567), the legislation is being introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).

Cardin said, “Hardworking federal employees did not cause our fiscal crises nor did they contribute to the legislative gridlock, but once again they are being asked to pay the heaviest price toward a resolution. It is our responsibility to assure these public servants, mostly middle class and struggling to get by like so many other Americans, will be made whole again when it finally ends. It is the right thing to do.”

Warner added, “This irresponsible shutdown adds insult to injury for many of our federal workers, many of whom have already had to endure furloughs from the sequester. There are more than 150,000 civilian federal employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and financial well-being has become collateral damage simply because a handful of extreme politicians in the House refusal to compromise.”

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.