H.R. 725 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 725 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 23, 2019Mrs. Dingell (for herself and Mr. Upton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pay Federal Workers Act. 2. Eligibility for unemployment compensation for Federal employees excepted from furlough (a) In general Section 8502 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (f) (1) With respect to any lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, each excepted Federal employee shall be, solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for unemployment compensation under this subchapter, deemed for the duration of the lapse in appropriations to be— (A) totally separated from Federal service; and (B) eligible for unemployment compensation benefits under this subchapter with no waiting period for such eligibility to accrue. (2) In this subsection, the term excepted Federal employee means a Federal employee who— (A) is an excepted employee or an employee performing emergency work, as such terms are defined by the Office of Personnel Management; and (B) is not being paid due to a lapse in appropriations. . (b) Application The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after December 22, 2018.