On the recordOctober 5, 2013
We have a chance on the floor today to move this body in the right direction--to move us closer to a solution. There is a bipartisan bill today offered by Mr. Moran and Mr. Wolf, both of Virginia. It's a bill that I've cosponsored and a bill, thankfully, that the President his agreed to sign. It is the Federal Employees Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, which would allow all Federal employees, regardless of individual furlough status, to receive their pay retroactive from October 1 for the entirety of the budget impasse. The stalemate we're at now has left 800,000 government employees furloughed and unsure about their next paycheck. There are also those at work now who aren't being paid for it. This includes thousands of Federal law enforcement officers who continue even today to protect this building and those of us in it and around it. I've been in touch with Federal workers in my district, including law enforcement, and they should know that there is agreement that they will receive their pay when the government reopens. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to be voting in favor of this legislation for all the Federal employees in my district and around the country who deserve some certainty while we wait for this impasse to end. Mr. Speaker, let's continue to talk, and let's end this impasse. ____________________
