Thread by @RepDonBeyer

The House just passed the Senate companion version of my bill (with @RobWittman) to give federal employees back pay from the shutdown.

The bill, introduced in the Senate by @SenatorCardin, was approved by the House with near-unanimous bipartisan support. 1/

This is a critical step towards undoing some of the damage caused by the government shutdown, but while this legislation will provide federal employees with the certainty that they will eventually be paid, that cannot happen until the shutdown ends. 2/

It is vital that the Senate take up the bipartisan legislation which has already passed previously in both chambers to end the shutdown and reopen the government.

Every day this shutdown continues will do lasting damage to the federal workforce and the country. 3/

I appreciate Senator @timkaine's work to bring this legislation to the Senate floor, where he was assured by Senate Republican leaders that it would pass and subsequently be signed into law. 4/

While the legislation which passed Congress today would cover only employees on the government payroll, I have also cosponsored the bicameral bill introduced in the House by Congresswoman @EleanorNorton to grant back pay to federal contractors. 5/

It is good that Congress could at least agree on these measures, but these are steps that can only undo - eventually - some of the massive damage being done to the country by this shutdown. Congress and the White House MUST the shutdown and reopening the government. 6/6