O'Rourke Votes "Yes" to Give Retroactive Pay to Furloughed Workers

Statement

This morning I voted to provide back pay for all federal employees once the government shutdown ends. I helped to introduce H.R. 3223, the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, earlier in the week and it passed the House today with a strong bi-partisan majority. The President supports the measure and I am hopeful it can quickly pass the Senate and be signed into law.

El Paso is home to 43,000 federal employees. They are integral to our community and I am grateful for the work they do each day. After having faced furloughs already this year due to sequestration, many of these workers are again furloughed and many others are still going to work, but not getting paid. During the past week I have spoken with many of them. Officers at Fort Bliss explained their concern for morale and readiness. Staff at Beaumont Army Medical Center who are frustrated that they cannot go to work to care for our wounded warriors. Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement who are required to work, but are worried about paying their mortgages on time. This legislation would make these federal workers whole.

Although guaranteeing back pay is the right thing to do, I want to get all federal employees back to work by ending this unnecessary shutdown. El Pasoans have paid taxes and deserve to have access to and receive services from all parts of the federal government. There is a solution at hand that could end this crisis. The funding bill with no strings attached that has passed the Senate has the support of the majority of the House. Over 20 Republicans are on the record supporting it and it is estimate that over a hundred would vote yes if it came to the floor and nearly all Democrats support it. If this measure was brought to the floor, it would pass and would go straight to the President, who would sign it into law and the government would re-open immediately.

Source