Gabbard Supports Back Pay for Furloughed Workers

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A bipartisan bill that seeks to provide compensation of furloughed federal employees has gained the support of Hawaiʻi Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.

House bill HR3223, also known as the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act was introduced on Monday by Democratic Representative James “Jim” Moran Jr. of Virginia.

The item seeks to ensure that federal employees that were furloughed as a result of the federal government shutdown, get paid, regardless of furlough status.

“Providing back pay is the right thing to do,” said Rep. Gabbard in a statement announcing her support for the bill.

Congressional delegates in Hawaiʻi say the state is home to more than 25,000 federal employees whose pay is suspended under the federal government shutdown.

“These are the same hard-working people who keep our streets safe, help our kupuna receive Social Security benefits, and keep essential government services functioning for all of Hawaiʻi’s constituents and visitors,” said Gabbard.

The bill has since been assigned to a congressional committee, and only has a 17% chance of getting past committee, and a 4% chance of being enacted, according to projections posted this morning at the govtrack.us website.