H.R. 6044: Pay Our Patriots Act

This bill, known as the Pay Our Patriots Act, aims to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and certain essential Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees receive their pay during times when federal government funding is interrupted, known as a lapse in appropriations.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Continuing Appropriations

In the event of a lapse in appropriations, the bill authorizes the use of funds from the Treasury to provide necessary pay and allowances to specific employees without needing additional legislation. This ensures that their compensation continues uninterrupted.

2. Rate of Pay

The bill specifies that the appropriations for these employees will be at the same rate they were receiving immediately before the lapse began, meaning there will be no reduction in their pay during this time.

3. Duration of Funding

The appropriations provided by the bill will remain available until either:

• The enactment of a regular appropriations act or continuing resolution that funds these components, or
• The end of the fiscal year during which the lapse occurs.

4. Ensuring Seamless Payments

Key officials from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation are required to continue disbursing payments for covered employees as if the government's funding had proceeded normally, ensuring they receive their pay on time.

Furthermore, the funds allocated by the bill will not be subject to any reductions or funding sequestrations, allowing for full disbursement to these employees.

5. Definitions

The bill defines a few important terms:

• Covered Employee: This includes members of the Armed Forces (encompassing reserve components) who are on active duty during a federal funding lapse, and civilian FAA employees deemed essential for safe operations of the national airspace system, such as air traffic controllers and safety inspectors.
• Covered Pay and Allowances: Refers to the salary, allowances, and benefits that these employees are entitled to under law, including potentially important bonuses and retirement pay.
• Covered Lapse in Appropriations: Defined as any period after the enactment of this bill where funding is not available for parts of the Armed Forces or the FAA.

Relevant Companies

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