# 117-hr-5456: Federal Employees Civil Relief Act

117-hr-5456, Federal Employees Civil Relief Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5456
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-5456
- Congress: 117
- Title: Federal Employees Civil Relief Act
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
- Introduced: 2021-09-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Federal Employees Civil Relief Act This bill establishes a framework to temporarily suspend certain judicial and administrative proceedings against a federal employee or contractor during a shutdown (i.e., any period in which there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations affecting any federal agency or department). A federal worker who is furloughed or required to work without pay during a shutdown may apply to a court for a temporary stay, postponement, or suspension of any payment of rent, mortgage, tax, fine, penalty, insurance premium, student loan repayment, or other civil obligation or liability that the worker or individual owes or would owe during the duration of the shutdown. The Department of Justice many commence a civil action against any person who engages in (1) a pattern or practice of violating the requirements of this bill, or (2) a violation that raises an issue of significant public importance. A person aggrieved by a violation of this bill's requirements may also bring a private right of action.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2021-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2021-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2021-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act
- 117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of thei…
- 117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act
- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hr-1057: Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hr-55: Emmett Till Antilynching Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-5456 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5456)

## Related
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doher…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-310)
- [117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8404)
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [117-hr-1057: Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1057)
- [117-hr-55: Emmett Till Antilynching Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-55)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5456 (as of 2025-11-18).