Takai, Beyer, Wittman Prepare Legislation to Protect Federal Workers

Press Release

With the clock ticking on the federal government's fiscal calendar, Congressman Mark Takai (D-HI), Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) are preparing legislation to protect federal employees from a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act would guarantee back pay for federal employees in the event of a shutdown.

"Once again, Congress has kicked the can down the road on funding our government and leading us to the brink of a shutdown," said Rep. Takai. "I am proud to work together with Congressmen Don Beyer and Rob Wittman to that ensure hard working Americans, many of whom work for the Department of Defense, are compensated for their work. These are people with bills to pay and mouths to feed who rely on a paycheck to keep their households going. If they do their job, Congress should do theirs and make sure they receive pay."

Federal employee pay is suspended in the event of a funding lapse or government shutdown. Retroactive pay for all federal workers must be approved by Congress. Hawaii has around 33,700 federal employees, which make up 5.6% of the state's total labor force, one of the highest shares in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"For the third time this year, Congressional dysfunction threatens the livelihood of federal workers carrying out our country's vital missions," said Rep. Beyer. "It's inexcusable to play politics with their pay and their family's well-being. I hope my House colleagues recognize the hardship these funding battles cause hard working American families."

"There has to be consistency and certainty in government funding for our federal employees to effectively carry out the important work that they do every day to make the U.S. a better, safer place," Rep. Wittman said. "This culture of stagnation that plagues the budget process in Washington and makes the well-being of federal employees contingent on unrelated policy measures has to end. I've said before, and I will say again that this recurring cycle of governing by crisis has to give way to long-term vision and resolve."

Source