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H.R. 5599: To prohibit the removal of Federal employees during any lapse in discretionary appropriations, and for other purposes.

This bill, known as H.R. 5599, aims to protect Federal employees working in agencies from being fired during a government shutdown caused by a lapse in discretionary appropriations. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its key components:

Prohibition of Removal

The legislation stipulates that:

Federal employees in an agency experiencing a government shutdown due to a lack of budget appropriations cannot be removed from their civil service positions.

Reinstatement and Back Pay

If an employee is wrongfully terminated during such a shutdown, the following measures are established:

The employee is entitled to choose to be reinstated once the government resumes operations.
Upon reinstatement, the employee can receive back pay, which means they are compensated for the time they were not working due to the unlawful termination.

Scope of the Bill

This bill specifically addresses situations involving discretionary appropriations, which typically relates to budgetary funding that Congress can allocate based on its discretion for various federal programs and activities.

Objective of the Bill

The primary intent of H.R. 5599 is to ensure job security and stability for federal employees during periods of government shutdown, thereby preventing sudden job losses that could occur amid budgetary disputes in Congress.

Enforcement

The bill includes provisions to enforce these protections, ensuring that federal agencies comply with the rules set forth regarding the employment status of their workers during a government shutdown.

Summary of Implications

This bill is designed to minimize the impact of government shutdowns on federal employees, aiming to provide them with a level of job protection, and also ensuring they can return to their positions without financial penalty in the case of wrongful dismissal.