I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5456 
To suspend the enforcement of certain civil liabilities of Federal employees 
and contractors during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 
Mr. KILMER (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mrs. BUSTOS, and Mr. BRENDAN 
F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the 
Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Edu-
cation and Labor, and House Administration, for a period to be subse-
quently determined 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, 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 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 res-
olution. 
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— 
(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 
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(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, 
(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-
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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 
(2) subject premises described in paragraph (1) 
to a distress. 
(b) STAY OF EXECUTION.— 
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(1) COURT AUTHORITY.—Upon an application 
for eviction or distress with respect to premises de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1), a court may, upon mo-
tion of the court, and shall, if a request is made by 
or on behalf of a Federal worker, the ability of 
whom to pay the rent that is the subject of the ac-
tion is materially affected by a shutdown— 
(A) stay the proceedings for a period of 30 
days, unless, in the opinion of the court, justice 
and equity require a longer or shorter period of 
time; or 
(B) adjust the obligation under the lease to 
preserve the interests of all parties. 
(2) RELIEF TO LANDLORD.—If a court grants 
a stay under paragraph (1), the court may grant to 
the landlord (or other person with paramount title) 
such relief as equity may require. 
(c) MISDEMEANOR.—Except as provided in sub-
section (a), a person that knowingly takes part in an evic-
tion or distress described in that subsection, or that know-
ingly attempts to take part in an eviction or distress de-
scribed in that subsection, shall be fined as provided in 
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more 
than 1 year, or both. 
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