Congress Approves Backpay for Furloughed Workers as Democrats Refuse to Open Government

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement after the House passed S. 24, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which guarantees backpay to federal employees affected by the government shutdown:

“While this is an important reassurance to displaced federal workers, it wouldn’t be necessary if Democrats would stop holding the government hostage and negotiate with the President to reopen it. While President Trump and House Republicans have offered a deal that both reopens our government and secures our border, the only counter-offer we’ve seen from Democrats is Nancy Pelosi’s unserious proposal for a single dollar toward the wall.

“Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer need to stop playing games with federal workers and America’s safety and fund border security now.”