[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 200 (Friday, December 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAMS:
  S. 1482. A bill to amend chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, 
to deem all Federal employees to be essential employees, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.


                federal government shutdown legislation

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, once again we stand at the edge of 
another partial shutdown of the Federal Government.
  Looking back on last month's shutdown, I have a hard time explaining 
to Minnesotans why we gave 800,000 Federal Government employees 4\1/2\ 
days of what amounts to paid ``vacation'' on top of the already 
generous employee leave benefits. I have a hard time explaining what 
the taxpayers got when they footed the bill for $400 million dollars of 
work that was never performed.
  Mr. President, losing your job is tough but if you get laid off or 
you go on strike, you don't get paid. Yet, if the Federal Government 
furloughs many of its employees it becomes a vacation and is paid in 
full. I'm reminded of that popular song from a few years back: 
``Somthin' for nothin'.'' That's exactly what Federal employees got 
when the Government shut down--``Somethin' for nothin'.'' And I 
suggest, Mr. President, that the American taxpayer is sick and tired of 
getting nothing.
  I realize that most Federal employees want to work and not become 
pawns in the debate over Federal spending. I want to change the law to 
ensure that Federal employees will work during shutdowns.
  As we all know, the determination of whether you came to work during 
the shutdown depended on if you were deemed ``essential'' or 
``nonessential.''
  It was very interesting when we saw the numbers of ``nonessential'' 
employees in some of the agencies we continue to support with billions 
of tax dollars.
  Fifty-seven percent of the employees at Health and Human Services; 66 
percent of Commerce; 72 percent at Interior; 75 percent at Labor; 82 
percent at EPA; 89 percent at Education; and a full 99 percent of HUD.
  Overall 800,000 employees--all of them deemed ``nonessential'' all of 
them on a paid ``vacation'' they didn't ask for and didn't want.
  I can't tell you how many times I've tried to explain to angry 
Minnesotans why we're employing all of these nonessential employees and 
even worse, why we paid them to stay away from the office.
  Mr. President, we cannot let this happen again. We cannot have 
employees who come to work not knowing whether they'll be paid and 
others forced to sit at home, hoping they will be paid. This is unfair 
to Federal employees and this is especially unfair to American 
taxpayers, who pay far too much of their hard earned dollars to the 
Government.
  For this reason, I am introducing legislation which will end this 
classification process and restore some common sense that will keep 
people working when Congress and the President fail to enact 
appropriations.
  Simply put, my bill, the ``Federal Employment Taxpayer Accountability 
Act,'' eliminates the distinction between essential and nonessential 
employees deeming all Federal Government employees essential.
  This will put an end to classification of Federal employees. It 
removes the guesswork on who's ``essential'' and most importantly, it 
eliminates Federal employees being used as ``pawns'' of the process--as 
bargaining chips for negotiators.
  Mr. President, the prospect of another Government shutdown is 
disappointing. The people of this country are demanding a balanced 
budget. Yet here we are, ready to throw another 300,000 employees out 
of work at Christmas time. Will they get paid when they come back? My 
bet is yes. If they're paid again for not working will the taxpayers 
understand? My bet is no.
  Let's not let this happen again. Let's ensure that taxpayers are 
protected. Let's ensure that when we ask them to send part of their 
paycheck to Washington, they're getting the most efficient cost 
effective Government possible--without the paid vacations.
  I urge my colleagues to support Federal workers--and the American 
taxpayers--by supporting the Federal Employment Taxpayer Accountability 
Act.
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