House Members Introduce Stimulus Package with Federal Workforce Provisions

A group of House Democrats have introduced a stimulus package that includes key provisions for federal employees to protect against the coronavirus. It has come under scrutiny by some House Republicans for also including federal workforce provisions seen as irrelevant to the issues surrounding the pandemic.

The Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act (H.R. 6379) would provide $2.5 trillion to agencies and Americans directly. Federal workers required to work during the crisis would be eligible to receive up to $2,000 in reimbursement for child care costs per dependent child. Any employee with a telework agreement in place would be required to work remotely through the end of the year. Agencies would be prohibited from instituting any organization-wide limitations on telework and would have to report to Congress if their telework rates dipped. Each agency would have to report annual goals to boost their telework usage rates.

The legislation also authorizes hazard pay for individuals with “frequent, unavoidable contact” with the public, such as some federal law enforcement. Those who cannot telework would be eligible for weather and safety leave.

Also included in the legislation is $3 billion for the Technology Modernization Fund, $25 billion for the US Postal Service, and $3 billion for additional telehealth services at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The legislation also includes a proposal to revoke President Trump’s three executive orders and one memorandum that weakened federal employee unions and expedited the disciplinary process.

According to reports from GovExec, these provisions have come under criticism by Republican Members. The White House is currently working with House and Senate leadership on a deal to resolve disagreements between provisions and it is unclear which federal workforce provisions will be included in a final stimulus package.