I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6044 
To provide for continuing appropriations for the pay and allowances of mem-
bers of the Armed Forces and certain essential employees of the Federal 
Aviation Administration in the event of a lapse in appropriations. and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 13, 2025 
Mr. MAST introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, 
and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for continuing appropriations for the pay and 
allowances of members of the Armed Forces and certain 
essential employees of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion in the event of a lapse in appropriations. 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 ‘‘Pay Our Patriots Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR ESSENTIAL 
ARMED FORCES AND FAA PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—During a covered lapse in appro-
priations, there are appropriated, out of any money in the 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may 
be necessary to provide covered pay and allowances to cov-
ered employees. 
(b) RATE
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Appropriations 
made under subsection (a) shall be available to provide 
covered pay and allowances at the rate in effect imme-
diately before the beginning of the covered lapse in appro-
priations. 
(c) DURATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Appropriations 
and authority made available under this section shall con-
tinue until the earlier of— 
(1) the date on which the applicable regular ap-
propriations Act or continuing resolution are enacted 
into law; or 
(2) the last day of the fiscal year in which the 
covered lapse in appropriations begins. 
SEC. 3. ENSURING SEAMLESS PAYMENT. 
(a) OBLIGATION
AND DISBURSEMENT.—The Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
and the Secretary of Transportation shall, for their re-
spective covered employees, continue to incur obligations 
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and disburse payments for covered pay and allowances as 
if appropriations had been enacted in a timely manner. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Funds appropriated 
by this Act shall be immediately available and shall not 
be subject to any reduction or sequestration. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘covered employee’’ means— 
(A) a member of the Armed Forces (as de-
fined in section 101 of title 10, United States 
Code), including reserve components, who per-
forms active service during a covered lapse in 
appropriations; and 
(B) a civilian employee of the Federal 
Aviation Administration who is determined by 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration to be performing duties during a 
covered lapse in appropriations essential to the 
safe operation of the national airspace system, 
including air traffic controllers, safety inspec-
tors, and operational support technicians; 
(2) the term ‘‘covered pay and allowances’’ 
means the pay, allowances, and benefits, including 
statutory bonuses and retired pay, to which a cov-
ered employee is entitled under law; and 
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(3) the term ‘‘covered lapse in appropriations’’ 
means any period beginning on or after the date of 
the enactment of this Act during which appropria-
tions are not available for any component of the 
Armed Forces or the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion. 
Æ 
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