Majority Leader McConnell confirms that President Trump will sign the legislation

WASHINGTON – Last night, the Senate passed the Klobuchar-backed Government Employee Fair Treatment Act. The legislation, cosponsored by Klobuchar, will ensure that federal and other government workers who have been impacted by the current federal government shutdown will receive their back pay. 

“We’re in the 21st day of this shutdown and the American people are tired of our country being held hostage while our workers and communities suffer,” Klobuchar said. “There are human consequences to this shutdown—from the countless TSA officers I’ve met at the airports to the FBI agents and so many others who are working without pay and who will be struggling to make rent this month. Our bill will ensure that the federal workers who are paying the price of this unnecessary shutdown will receive the back pay they deserve.”

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act stipulates that all employees shall be paid as soon as possible after the lapse in appropriations ends – this includes those forced to work without pay and those locked out of their jobs during the shutdown. The bill also clarifies that excepted employees who have scheduled previously approved leave occurring during an appropriations lapse may indeed take that leave without undue penalty.  It also clarifies that its provisions also apply to employees of the District of Columbia (DC) Government, D.C. Courts, and D.C. Public Defenders Service, who are also affected by federal government shutdowns.

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