In early March, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act (H.R. 1301 / S. 640). FMA endorsed the legislation, which would protect feds from negative financial consequences from civil penalties due to situations completely out of their control, including a government shutdown or a debt default.

Following the shutdown of 2018-2019, Congress took an important step to guarantee feds backpay at some point, whenever funding is eventually restored, following a shutdown. FMA supported that effort. However, these employees still face a threat of significant negative financial consequences during a shutdown if they are furloughed during a shutdown or required to work without pay. The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act would protect workers impacted by a shutdown from: being evicted or foreclosed upon; having their car or other property repossessed; falling behind in their student loan payments; having negative effects on their credit history; falling behind in paying their bills; or losing their insurance because of missed premiums.

“Federal workers aren’t Democrats or Republicans when they show up for work,” Kilmer said in a press release upon introduction. “They are public servants that protect our sailors through their work at the shipyard, that prepare timber sales in the federal forests, that welcome visitors to national parks, that care for our veterans, that ensure citizens can get the services they need, and that keep us safe. We should have their backs. That’s why I’m leading legislation with Senator Schatz to ensure that if federal workers in our region have to deal with a government shutdown, their finances – and their families – are protected.”

H.R. 1301 has two cosponsors, while S. 640 currently has 16.

In addition to strongly supporting the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act, FMA urges Congress to protect feds’ security clearances and from other potential negative ramifications that could impact feds through no fault of their own. We commend Sen. Schatz and Rep. Kilmer for their leadership on this issue and will work with them to advance this commonsense bill through the 118th Congress.

To follow the progress of the House version of Federal Employees Civil Relief Act, please click here. For the Senate version, click here.