True Shutdown Fairness Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7322 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7322 To provide for appropriations to pay Federal employees and contractors during periods of lapses in appropriations in fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2026 Mr. Walkinshaw (for himself, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Norton, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Subramanyam, Mr. Mfume, and Mr. Vindman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Appropriations, House Administration, the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide for appropriations to pay Federal employees and contractors during periods of lapses in appropriations in fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``True Shutdown Fairness Act''. SEC. 2. PAYMENT OF EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS DURING SHUTDOWNS. (a) Definitions.--In this section-- (1) the term ``agency''-- (A) means each authority of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States; and (B) includes each District of Columbia public employer described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 1341(c)(1)(B) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act); (2) the term ``contract employee'' means an employee of a contractor for whom a lapse in regular appropriations could suspend, delay, or interrupt (or, if there is an ongoing la