Courtney Endorses Retroactive Pay for Workers Impacted by GOP Shutdown, Limitation of Furloughs
WASHINGTON—Yesterday, during the first day of the federal government shutdown insisted upon by House Republicans, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) took two actions to help address the impact of a government shutdown on eastern Connecticut’s hardworking federal workers. First, Courtney co-sponsored H.R. 3223, the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (VA-8). Along with a growing bipartisan group of members, Courtney is supporting a policy that would mirror the retroactive pay provisions that followed the 1995 government shutdown.
“The hardworking, patriotic men and women of eastern Connecticut who provide critical support to our military, seniors, farmers, and small businesses do not deserve to be treated like a punching bag by House Republicans, who have caused a reckless, illogical government shutdown,” Courtney said. “These workers and their families—many of whom were already impacted by sequestration furloughs over the summer—should not have to suffer because irresponsible House Republicans are on a crusade against the Affordable Care Act. This bill would restore lost pay to talented workers who have been used as a political football for far too long.
“I urge Speaker Boehner to bring the clean Senate bill to the floor for a vote, so that Congress—both Democrats and the many rational Republicans who recognize the futility and danger of this strategy—can get the government up and running again.”
Under a government shutdown, those federal employees deemed to be “excepted” are required to report to work and are guaranteed to be paid for their work once the shutdown ends. However, those deemed “non-excepted” are placed on shutdown furlough, ordered to stay home and would not necessarily be paid for the lost time. In the 1995 shutdown, Congress included a provision in the continuing resolution resolving the impasse that all those subject to shutdown-related furlough would be provided back pay for the time lost due to those furloughs. H.R. 3223 would enact a similar requirement that those furloughed under the current shutdown would receive back pay.
Additionally, Congressman Courtney sent a letter yesterday to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Rand Beers urging the broadest possible implementation of the Pay our Military Act. That measure, passed this weekend by Congress and signed into law on Monday night, requires that our military personnel who are reporting to work during the shutdown be paid on time. In addition, the provides additional authority for those civilians designated by the Defense Department and Homeland Security to stay on the job and receive pay on time. The interpretation of this law is being considered right now by the Defense Department to determine if it can be used to broaden the number of personnel considered to be “excepted” and not subject to furloughs.
In his letter, Congressman Courtney wrote:
I strongly share your belief that the best way to end this impasse and put these people back to work is to enact a clean and bipartisan funding resolution that re-opens the government. I remain committed not only to that urgent task, but also working towards a bipartisan agreement on completing a full budget for 2014 – one that provides certainty to our federal agencies and our economy, and that ends the growing damage of sequestration.
However, at this time the outlook for even completing a short term continuing resolution is unclear at best. While I am hopeful for a quick resolution, it is possible that a shutdown could continue for at least a few days, if not longer. In that event, I urge that you use all authority available to you to enact the broadest interpretation possible when implementing any furloughs under the government shutdown, with the goal of keeping as many of our hard working civilians in the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security at work in support of our military and our nation’s security.