Press Releases

With the clock ticking on the federal government’s fiscal calendar, 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 all furloughed workers in the event of a shutdown.

“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.”

Federal employee pay is suspended in the event of a funding lapse or government shutdown.  Retroactive pay for all “essential” and “non-essential” federal workers must be approved by Congress.

“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.”

Congressman Beyer’s 8^th District and Congressman Wittman’s 1^st District are home to approximately 120,000 federal employees combined.