I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1301 
To suspend the enforcement of certain civil liabilities of Federal employees 
and contractors during a lapse in appropriations, or during a breach 
of the statutory debt limit, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 1, 2023 
Mr. KILMER (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, and Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the Committees on Fi-
nancial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Education and the 
Workforce, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To suspend the enforcement of certain civil liabilities of 
Federal employees and contractors during a lapse in 
appropriations, or during a breach of the statutory debt 
limit, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Employees 
Civil Relief Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to provide for the tem-
porary suspension of judicial and administrative pro-
ceedings and transactions that may adversely affect the 
civil rights of Federal workers during a shutdown. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘consumer reporting agency’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Report-
ing Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f)). 
(2) CONTRACTOR.—The term ‘‘contractor’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 7101 of title 
41, United States Code. 
(3) COURT; JUDGMENT; STATE.—The terms 
‘‘court’’, ‘‘judgment’’, and ‘‘State’’ have the mean-
ings given those terms in section 101 of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3911). 
(4) COVERED PERIOD.—The term ‘‘covered pe-
riod’’ means the period beginning on the date on 
which a shutdown begins and ending on the date 
that is 30 days after the date on which that shut-
down ends. 
(5) FEDERAL
WORKER.—The term ‘‘Federal 
worker’’— 
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(A) means an employee of a Government 
agency; and 
(B) includes an employee of a contractor. 
(6) GOVERNMENT AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Gov-
ernment agency’’ means each authority of the execu-
tive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government 
of the United States. 
(7) SHUTDOWN.—The term ‘‘shutdown’’ means 
any period in which— 
(A) there is more than a 24-hour lapse in 
appropriations for any Government agency or 
Federal department as a result of a failure to 
enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing 
resolution; or 
(B) the debt of the United States Govern-
ment is greater than the statutory limit under 
section 3101 of title 31, United States Code. 
SEC. 4. JURISDICTION. 
(a) JURISDICTION.—This Act shall apply to— 
(1) the United States; 
(2) each of the States, including each political 
subdivision of a State; and 
(3) all territory that is subject to the jurisdic-
tion of the United States. 
(b) APPLICABILITY TO PROCEEDINGS.—This Act— 
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(1) shall apply to any judicial or administrative 
proceeding that is commenced in any court or agen-
cy in any jurisdiction that is subject to this Act; and 
(2) shall not apply to criminal proceedings or 
with respect to child support payments. 
(c) COURT
IN
WHICH
APPLICATION
MAY
BE 
MADE.—When, under this Act, any application is required 
to be made to a court in which no proceeding has already 
been commenced with respect to a matter, that application 
may be made to any court that would otherwise have juris-
diction over the matter. 
(d) NOTIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Government 
agency that employs a Federal worker, or at which 
a Federal worker performs services, as applicable, 
shall provide the Federal worker with written notice 
regarding the benefits provided under this Act— 
(A) on the date on which the individual be-
comes a Federal worker; and 
(B) periodically after the date described in 
subparagraph (A), including on the date on 
which any shutdown begins. 
(2) LEGISLATIVE
AND
JUDICIAL
BRANCH.— 
With respect to a Federal worker in a Government 
agency in the legislative branch or judicial branch, 
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(or, in the case of a Federal worker who is an em-
ployee of a contractor, who provides services at a 
Government agency in the legislative branch or judi-
cial branch), the officer or employee at the Govern-
ment agency who has the final authority to appoint, 
hire, discharge, and set the terms, conditions, or 
privileges of the employment of the Federal worker 
shall provide the notice required under paragraph 
(1). 
SEC. 5. ANTICIPATORY RELIEF. 
A Federal worker who is furloughed or required to 
work without pay during a shutdown may apply to a court 
for a temporary stay, postponement, or suspension with 
respect to any payment of rent, mortgage, tax, fine, pen-
alty, insurance premium, student loan repayment, or other 
civil obligation or liability that the Federal worker or indi-
vidual, as applicable, owes or would owe during the dura-
tion of the shutdown. 
SEC. 6. EVICTIONS. 
(a) COURT-ORDERED EVICTION.—Except by the 
order of a court, a landlord may not, during a shutdown— 
(1) evict a Federal worker from premises that 
are occupied or intended to be occupied primarily as 
a residence; or 
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