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News Alert: Government Shutdown Information and Resources
News Alert: Government Shutdown Information and Resources
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Amid Government Shutdown, Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Provide Back Pay for Federal Contract Workers, Including Food Service and Custodial Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and 30 colleagues in the Senate in introducing the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shut down. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown.

“Federal contractors are essential to keeping the government running, providing critical services that many of us rely on,” said Senator Hirono. “Thousands of workers rely on the income from their federal employment and they should not have to suffer because of a government shutdown they had nothing to do with. I am proud to introduce this long overdue legislation to ensure that federal contractors will receive fair compensation after a shutdown, just the same as federal employees.”

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would ensure federal contract workers, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services, are fairly compensated for the wages and benefits lost due to a lapse in appropriations, also known as a government shutdown. It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15/per hour.

The legislation would:

  • Provide contract workers, including low-wage service workers, with back pay (and restored paid leave benefits, if used), after a government shutdown,
  • Cover costs associated with back pay for workers in an amount equal to their weekly compensation up to $1,442, (250% of the federal poverty level for a family of four), and
  • Require the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report on federal contractors accessing back pay.

In addition to Senators Hirono and Smith, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jacky Rosen (D-NV),Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The legislation is endorsed by Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Iron Workers International, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), UNITE HERE and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

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