Reps Lieu and Gallego Introduce Bill to Protect Families from Financial Impact of Shutdown

Statement

This week, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) introduced the "Protecting Families from Government Shutdowns Act of 2019" with Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). In light of the threats of another shutdown from the Trump Administration, this bill would protect Americans from some of the harmful impacts of government shutdowns. It would make it unlawful for any entity to enforce penalties in a contract that is violated because of one's inability to meet obligations due to a government shutdown. It also directs government agencies to develop guidance on halting agency penalties and communicating such information to the public.

Upon introduction, the Members said:

"Government shutdowns hurt everyone. Even though Trump's 35-day shutdown is over, there are thousands of Americans who now have to deal with the financial fallout. This doesn't just include federal workers and their families--it includes small business owners and local economies that rely on government services that couldn't meet the public's needs during the shutdown. With this bill, we're ensuring that communities and individuals are not punished because of the whims of Washington, and that shutdowns won't create an untenable financial burden for innocent members of the public."

More on the bill:

Actions prohibited during a shutdown: It is unlawful for an entity to do any of the following with respect to a person if that person is unable to meet an obligation because of a government shutdown:

Debt collection
Foreclosure
Eviction
Acceleration or downgrading of credit
Require any other obligation mandated by law or contract to be met that relies on a government service not available during a shutdown.

Source