Pay Workers What They've Earned Act

To amend title 31, United States Code, to reimburse employees of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia, Federal contractors, and the States for certain costs incurred as a result of a Government shutdown, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pay Workers What They've Earned Act 2. Reimbursement for individuals affected by Government shutdowns Section 1341 of title 31, United States Code, as amended by the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, is further amended by adding at the end the following: (d) (1) In this subsection— (A) the term covered employee (i) any employee of the United States Government or of a District of Columbia public employer furloughed as a result of a covered lapse in appropriations; (ii) any excepted employee who is required to perform work during such lapse; and (iii) any contractor with the Federal Government (or an employee of such contractor) placed on unpaid leave as a result of such lapse; (B) the term shutdown cost (C) the terms covered lapse in appropriations District of Columbia public employer employee excepted employee (D) the term State (2) (A) With respect to the covered lapse in appropriations beginning on or about December 22, 2018, each covered employee shall be paid for any shutdown cost at the earliest date possible after the date of enactment of this subsection, and subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse. (B) With respect to any other covered lapse in appropriations of a duration of 14 days or longer, any covered employee shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, be paid for any shutdown cost at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations ends. (3) (A) Any State that makes an expenditure of State funds for payments for assistance programs that would be, but for a covered lapse in appropriations of a duration of 14 days or longer (including the lapse described in subparagraph (A)), provided by the Federal Government shall be reimbursed for such payments not later than 90 days after the lapse in appropriations ends. (B) This paragraph shall not apply to any State expenditure with respect to which reimbursement is provided by the Federal Government under any other provision of law, including unemployment compensation. (4) (A) In order to receive reimbursement under paragraph (2) or (3), a covered employee or State (as the case may be) shall submit an application to the Secretary of the Treasury, in such form and manner as the Secretary deems appropriate, not later than 1 year after the applicable lapse in appropriations ends. (B) The Secretary shall determine what documentation shall be included with such an application to verify the shutdown costs or expenditure submitted by a covered employee or a State, respectively. (C) Upon approval by the Secretary, reimbursement shall be provided to the covered employee or State, consistent with the requirements of this subsection. (5) (A) There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a fund, to be known as the Reserve Fund for Employees Affected By Government Shutdowns Fund (B) Subject to the availability of appropriations, amounts in the Fund shall be available for purposes of paying the shutdown costs of any covered employee during a covered lapse in appropriations beginning after the lapse referred to in paragraph (2)(A). .

Summary: Pay Workers What They've Earned Act This bill requires the federal government to reimburse certain costs resulting from a government shutdown incurred by states or employees of the federal government, the District of Columbia government, or federal contractors. Employee costs that must be reimbursed include any fees, fines, or interest resulting from an employee's inability to make payments due to a loss in salary. The bill requires that each employee be paid for any shutdown cost at the earliest date possible after a lapse in appropriations of 14 days or longer. States must be reimbursed for payments for assistance programs that would be paid by the federal government but for a lapse in appropriations of 14 days or longer.