# 119-hr-5628: Pay Workers What They’ve Earned Act

119-hr-5628, Pay Workers What They’ve Earned Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5628
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5628
- Congress: 119
- Title: Pay Workers What They’ve Earned Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates a federal reimbursement program to pay workers and states for costs caused by government shutdowns.** The Pay Workers What They've Earned Act would define who counts as a covered employee, list reimbursable "shutdown costs" like loan and credit-card fees, and set rules for payments, applications, and a Treasury reserve fund for approved claims. - Covered workers and contractors would be eligible. The bill defines "covered employees" to include furloughed federal and D.C. employees, excepted workers who must perform work, and contractors placed on unpaid leave, and would repay shutdown costs such as loan and credit-card fees, prioritizing payments after the lapse that begins on or about October 1, 2025 and for future lapses of 14 days or more, subject to appropriations. - States that spend their own funds to provide assistance normally funded by the federal government during a lapse of 14 days or longer would be reimbursed. Reimbursement must be made not later than 90 days after the lapse ends and excludes expenditures already reimbursed under other law. - Workers and states must apply to the Treasury within 1 year and provide documentation the Secretary requires. The bill creates a Reserve Fund in the general fund of the Treasury to hold amounts appropriated after enactment and to pay approved shutdown claims, with payments dependent on future appropriations.

## Cosponsors (9)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29] (D-CA), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2025-10-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2025-10-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Shutdown cost payback for affected workers: benefit, medium. If enacted, many federal and DC workers—and some federal contractors—could get paid back for shutdown costs. Covered costs would include loan and credit card charges, and fees, fines, or interest from missed payments caused by lost pay. You would need to apply to the Treasury within one year after…
- Repay States for benefits during shutdowns: benefit, medium. If a State uses its own money to keep federal assistance payments going during a shutdown of 14 days or more, the federal government would repay the State within 90 days after the shutdown ends. States would need to apply to the Treasury within one year and send the proof the Secretary requires. Th…
- Create a shutdown reserve for workers: benefit, low. The bill would set up a Treasury reserve fund to help pay workers’ shutdown costs in future lapses. The fund would only have money if Congress puts money into it. It could be used for shutdowns that start after the Oct. 1, 2025 lapse.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5628 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5628)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5628 (as of 2026-04-21).