# 119-s-2948: Help FEDS Act

119-s-2948, Help FEDS Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2948
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2948
- Congress: 119
- Title: Help FEDS Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Unemployment pay for unpaid federal workers: mixed, medium. 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 woul…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-2982: Federal Employees Civil Relief Act
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act

## Sources
- [119-s-2948 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2948)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-2982: Federal Employees Civil Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2982)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2948 (as of 2026-04-21).