House lawmakers voted 227-194 to pass an appropriations package containing a bill to mandate back pay for federal contractors that were affected by the 35-day government shutdown, the Washington Business Journal reported Wednesday.
The Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act of 2019 is among the five bills included in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2020 — which proposes a $383.3 billion budget for some federal departments and science organizations.
Rep. Ayanna Pressely, D-Mass., introduced the measure to ensure that federal contract employers would obtain reimbursement for costs associated with the impasse over funding. The Professional Services Council supports the passage and urged the Senate to approve similar legislation.
“Inclusion of the ‘Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act of 2019’ in the House-passed fiscal year 2020 Appropriations Act is a first step to providing fairness and equity to a portion of the government contractor community,†said Alan Chvotkin, executive vice president and counsel of PSC.