# 119-hr-1835: MERIT Act

119-hr-1835, MERIT Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-30).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1835
- As of: 2026-10-30
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1835
- Congress: 119
- Title: MERIT Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-04
- Sponsor: Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 108
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-30

## Summary

**Reinstatement for affected probationary federal employees.** The Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination Act would create a pathway to return people removed in defined mass terminations to the same or a similar federal job and make up lost pay while preserving or improving benefits. - Affected probationary employees would gain a right to appointment to their former agency in the same or a similar position and a lump-sum payment equal to the difference between pay they would have earned and any pay earned in a new federal job. This applies to mass terminations occurring between January 20, 2025 and enactment. - Federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management would handle notices, selection, and pay decisions. The OPM Director would set pay based on employee evidence, employees get up to 60 days to submit pay details, and agencies must start lump-sum payments within 90 days after pay is determined. - Congress and oversight bodies would get quick reporting: the Comptroller General must report on mass terminations within 60 days and OPM must report reinstatement counts within 90 days for congressional review.

## Cosponsors (108)

- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sylvester Turner (D-TX), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6] (D-LA), 2025-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2025-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2025-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4] (D-AZ), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2025-03-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2025-03-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2025-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2025-07-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- One-time back pay and offsets: benefit, medium. If enacted, back pay for those who took new federal jobs would be offset by what you already earned. If you hold a new federal job on the enactment date, you would get at most the difference between what your old agency would have paid from termination to enactment and what you earned in new federa…
- Right to return to your federal job: benefit, medium. If enacted, qualifying workers would be offered a job in their former agency in the same or a similar role. The new job must match or beat your old retirement, health insurance, and leave benefits. Agencies would have 30 days after enactment to notify you, and you would have 30 days to accept or lo…
- Who could be reinstated to federal jobs: benefit, low. If enacted, this would cover certain former federal workers. You must have been separated between January 20, 2025 and the date of enactment. The separation must be part of a mass termination: at least 15 covered separations in any 30 days tied to the same or related federal actions. You must have…
- Reports on mass federal terminations: benefit, low. If enacted, the Comptroller General would report within 60 days on mass terminations from January 20, 2025 to enactment, including counts by agency and reasons. OPM would report within 90 days on how many workers were notified and how many accepted appointments.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1101: Taxpayer Data Protection Act
- 119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains…
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1835 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1835)

## Related
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-14: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-14)
- [119-hr-1101: Taxpayer Data Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1101)
- [119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-70)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1835 (as of 2026-10-30).