Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-s-2948119th CongressWALLET
Help FEDS Act
Sponsored By: Senator Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Introduced
Summary
Temporary unemployment coverage for excepted Federal employees during shutdowns. This bill would let those employees apply for and receive state unemployment benefits for weeks they perform emergency work during funding lapses in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
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- Excepted Federal employees who perform emergency work but are not being paid could get state unemployment for the weeks they work. If they later receive pay under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c)(2) they must repay the state, and unrepaid amounts are treated as overpayments and recoverable.
- States would have to accept these claims and initially pay benefits. The Treasury would reimburse states 100% of benefits paid and eligible administrative costs from the Unemployment Trust Fund, with the Secretary of Labor certifying amounts to the Treasury.
- Payments come from the federal Unemployment Trust Fund, and recovered repayments are deposited into the state unemployment fund.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Unemployment pay for unpaid federal workers
If enacted, excepted federal employees who are unpaid and doing OPM-defined emergency work during a lapse in fiscal year 2026 or 2027 would be able to apply for State unemployment pay for weeks they worked. If they later get federal back pay under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c)(2) for the same period, they would have to repay that unemployment pay to the State. States would treat unrepaid amounts as overpayments and recover them using usual State UI rules. Repaid money would be deposited into the State unemployment fund. The Treasury would reimburse States 100% of those benefits and any extra administrative costs from the Unemployment Trust Fund after Labor certifies amounts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov