Baldwin Supports Legislation to Pay All Federal Employees During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues introduced and tried to pass a measure to pay all federal workers, servicemembers, and federal contractors who are currently missing paychecks due to President Donald Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ shutdown. The bill was brought to the Senate floor for quick consideration, but Senate Republicans blocked it. For 23 days, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have refused to negotiate to reopen the government, ensure federal workers and troops get paid, and stop 22 million Americans from going over a health care cliff.

“Millions of Americans are missing paychecks because Republicans won’t come to the table to reopen the government and help save 22 million Americans from skyrocketing health care costs. Until they do, I want to ensure all federal employees and their families don’t pay the price,” said Senator Baldwin. “All federal workers are being impacted by Trump’s shutdown and all of them should be paid, not just the ones Donald Trump picks and chooses.”

Senator Baldwin co-sponsored a measure that would deliver paychecks to every federal employee, including servicemembers, during this shutdown. The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act provides a one-time appropriation for the salaries of members of the military, all federal employees, and federal contractors from October 1 to the date the bill takes effect. This bill ensures that both furloughed employees and employees excepted from furlough will receive their standard pay if it was interrupted due to the shutdown.

Unlike the Shutdown Fairness Act, which excludes furloughed workers, the Military and Federal Employee Protection Act would pay all federal employees for the time that has elapsed under the government shutdown. Additionally, this bill does not give President Trump a permanent blank check to pay the salaries of only favored employees during any government shutdown. The bill restricts how the funding can be used and would bar the Trump Administration from spending the funds for any purposes other than compensating servicemembers, federal employees, and contractors.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.