VIDEO: Peters Urges Colleagues to Pass Bill to Pay Military Personnel and All Federal Employees During Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, urged his Senate colleagues to pass legislation he introduced that would pay military personnel, federal employees, and federal contractors whose salaries have been interrupted by the ongoing government shutdown. Peters took to the Senate floor after introducing the Military and Federal Employee Protection Act, which would provide a one-time appropriation to pay servicemembers, federal employees, and contractors who have missed any compensation from October 1 to the date the bill is enacted, as a result of the government shutdown. The bill ensures that both furloughed employees, as well as employees who have been excepted from furlough status and are continuing to work, are guaranteed to receive their standard pay. The bill would also require that all employees receive any delayed compensation within one week of enactment, to ensure they are paid in a timely fashion.

Peters’ bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).  

“This shutdown is not an accident. Republicans right now are refusing to negotiate with Democrats on a bipartisan solution to help address the health care crisis,” said Peters during his remarks. “And now, as a result of that, federal workers are paying the price. My bill ensures that no worker is left behind during this difficult period.”

To watch Peters’ remarks on the Senate floor, click here.

Peters' bill would also include restrictions that limit how the funding can be used and bars the Trump Administration from spending the funds for any purposes other than compensating servicemembers, federal employees, and contractors.

During his speech, Peters reiterated his commitment to working on a bipartisan agreement that reopens the government and to protect the health care that Americans depend on in Michigan and across the country.

“I going to continue to work to end this government shutdown and address the health care crisis. But in the meantime, let’s protect our servicemembers and our federal employees, not put other stuff in the bill, just pay them so they can meet their bills as they arise,” Peters said.

“No federal worker or servicemember should be punished for this shutdown that was brought on through no fault of their own. Republicans are hell-bent on letting Trump pick winners and losers here, but every federal worker, servicemember, and federal contractor deserves to get paid. Our bills would ensure just that, and if Republicans were serious about supporting our federal employees, they would support them. We must keep pressing to reopen the government with a responsible agreement that holds the President accountable to the law, protects federal workers and our servicemembers, and prevents massive spikes in Americans’ health care costs,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Since day one, the Trump Administration has enacted policy after policy to traumatize, politicize, and hollow out the federal workforce that delivers essential services to the American people. Now, Senate Republicans want to give President Trump more power to decide which of these workers get paid, and which get punished. Nothing about that is fair, and I’m proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues in proposing alternative legislation to ensure that America’s entire workforce of dedicated and patriotic federal employees is treated equally,” said Senator Kaine.

“In New Mexico and across the country, our federal workers, servicemembers, and contractors dedicate their lives to serving the American people. These hardworking Americans should not bear the brunt of the pain Republicans are inflicting through this shutdown. That’s why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce legislation ensuring every federal employee, servicemember, and federal contractor is paid during the ongoing Republican shutdown.” said Senator Luján.

“It defies common sense and anyone’s definition of fairness to say that only certain federal employees should get paid during a shutdown, or that federal employees should be laid off during a shutdown. We need to do everything we can to end this shutdown and get these folks paid and back to work,” said Senator Welch. “This bill pushes back against the President’s lawless rampage and ensures all of our federal workers and servicemembers are paid for doing their jobs.”

“While House Republicans are on a paid, monthlong vacation in the middle of a shutdown, federal employees and contractors – who have bills to pay and families to take care of – are being forced to go weeks on end without a paycheck. Our bill ensures that federal workers and servicemembers are not punished because of the Republicans’ refusal to show up to work and negotiate an agreement that prevents health care costs from skyrocketing,” said Senator Schatz.

“Every day federal workers are out there keeping us safe, keeping our food supply secure, enforcing our laws, and caring for our veterans. They are the backbone of the services Americans count on. But from the start, this administration has treated the federal workers not as partners in serving the American people, but as adversaries to be traumatized, punished and politicized. Now, Senate Republicans want to give President Trump even more authority to decide which of these workers get paid and which get punished. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce this bill to make sure every service member, federal employee and contractor gets treated with the respect they deserve during this cruel Republican shutdown,” said Senator Warner.

“As Donald Trump and Washington Republicans continue to hold the federal government hostage and refuse to act to prevent a spike in health care costs, military families and federal workers continue to suffer,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to help introduce this bill to make sure all federal workers and servicemembers are compensated while Republicans continue to refuse to reopen the government and protect access to health care.”

“Republicans could come to the negotiating table end this shutdown today, but instead, they're choosing to leave town and play politics with the livelihoods of federal workers and servicemembers and jacking up healthcare costs for millions of Americans,” said Senator Gallego. “I'm proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that the entire federal workforce gets paid while Republicans refuse to do their jobs.”

“California has one of the largest federal workforces in the country, and no federal worker or service member should miss their paychecks because Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to come to the table to protect Americans’ health care. We must do right by all hardworking public servants to make sure they are compensated in full for any income they’ve lost as a result of this Republican shutdown,” said Senator Padilla.

“As someone who spent their career as a federal worker, I know firsthand that shutdowns are not good for anybody and that missing a paycheck is not easy,” said Senator Slotkin. “This bill is an important step to protect our military personnel and federal employees. Republicans should come to the negotiating table and put an end to both the shutdown and impending health care crisis.”

“The Military and Federal Employees Protection Act ensures that federal workers will receive the pay they deserve, as their salaries have been interrupted by the government shutdown. President Trump and Republicans would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats and commit to protecting access to affordable health care—this legislation makes sure military personnel, federal employees, and federal contractors are not bearing the burden of Trump’s shutdown,” said Senator Blumenthal. 

"This shutdown is entirely of Donald Trump’s making, and New Mexico’s working families are paying the price — missing paychecks, delayed services, and mounting financial stress. No president should have the power to hold workers’ livelihoods hostage to advance a political agenda,” said Senator Heinrich. “I’m proud to support this legislation that honors the dignity of work for every hardworking person in New Mexico. It’s time for Republicans to get serious, come to the table, and work with Democrats to pass a deal that lowers health care costs, reopens the government, and restores stability and security for New Mexico families."

“Donald Trump has made it his mission to fire thousands of public servants, including more Veterans than any other President in history, and he’s using the shutdown he caused as pretext to fire even more of them—and now Senate Republicans want to give Trump even more power to pick and choose who he thinks deserves a paycheck for their work,” said Senator Duckworth. “This is despicably cruel. Federal employees, servicemembers and federal contractors should not suffer the consequences of a shutdown they did not cause. Rather than cheer Trump on as he builds his extravagant and unnecessary $300 million ballroom at the White House, Senate Republicans should get back in touch with reality and help us protect workers who have been worried about how they’ll pay rent or put food on the table as the Republican shutdown continues to block their paychecks. It’s the fair and right thing to do.”

Peters’ bill is supported by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE).

Text of the bill is available here.

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