Protecting Taxpayers’ Wallets Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced
Summary
Charges labor organizations fees for using federal resources and official union time. The fee would cover the value of paid union time plus the market value of office space, equipment, parking, and similar support.
Show full summary
- Labor organizations would receive a quarterly bill equal to the value of their representatives' union time plus agency resources used and must pay within 60 days or face interest and escalating penalties, including possible loss of exclusive certification after 380 days.
- Labor representatives would have to record union time in agency time and attendance systems; failing to record union time would be treated as absence without leave and can lead to adverse action.
- Agency heads would calculate and notify organizations of fees within 30 days after each quarter ends, transfer payments to the Treasury general fund, and face Inspector General compliance reviews every two years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Inspector General biennial compliance reviews
This bill would require each agency Inspector General to review agency and union compliance within two years of enactment and every two years after. Reviews would check the accuracy of union time records, whether fees were charged and paid promptly, and how agencies valued resources used by unions. The Inspector General would report findings to the agency head and to two congressional committees.
New timekeeping and discipline rules
This bill would require agencies to record union time in their regular time and attendance systems. If a union representative uses union time but fails to record it, the absence would be treated as absent without leave and subject to adverse action. Willful or repeated failures in the same fiscal year could be treated as impairing efficiency. Disciplinary actions under this rule would not be treated as unfair labor practices or be subject to certain grievance or arbitration procedures and would be sustained on appeal if supported by substantial evidence.
Penalties for unpaid union fees
If a labor organization fails to pay a fee, interest would begin to accrue at the bill's defined rate. Starting 90 days after the payment due date the agency would deny further union time and stop providing agency resources to the union. At 180 days the agency would end allotments under section 7115. At 365 days the agency would notify the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the union. At 380 days the Authority would terminate the union's certification as exclusive representative until the union pays all fees and accrued interest.
Quarterly fees on federal unions
This bill would require agencies to charge exclusive labor organizations a quarterly fee. The fee would equal the value of union time plus the value of agency resources used for union business. The bill would define hourly pay as the agency's total employment cost divided by hours worked and require agencies to use GSA or market rates for resource value. Agencies would notify unions within 30 days after the quarter ends and require payment within 60 days. Agencies would transfer payments to the U.S. Treasury and could not forgive or reduce fees. Agency valuation decisions could not be challenged under Chapter 71 or as unfair labor practices.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
IA • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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