On Friday May 15, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6800, Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act). NFFE lobbied intensely for the provisions in this bill for several weeks and while not all our provisions made it into the final version, several significant provisions did. Now, NFFE needs your help to get it through the Senate.
Within this bill are provisions to help the federal workforce work through and recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. Included are workforce policy expansions to assist with telework, important changes to the Federal Employees Compensation Act based on COVID-19 related disabilities, a provision to protect federal first responders who become infected with the virus, and critical financial support for the Job Corps program.
The bill also includes personal financial relief for federal employees who were not able to telework in isolation and instead continue to work with the public or in an environment where social distancing is not possible. The House bill stipulates an increase of $13 per hour for these federal workers, retroactive to January 27, 2020 when the national public health emergency was declared. This financial support would continue until 60 days after the end of the declared national emergency. The limit on this additional pay is capped at $10,000 for those making less than $200,000. Obviously, if passed this would provide much needed relief and financial assistance to federal workers who are serving during the pandemic.
Please use the NFFE Action Network to send a letter to your two U.S. Senators today. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated little interest in the bill. Tell your Senators to demand that the bill get passed in the Senate immediately!
Use this link to send your letters today!
NFFE President Erwin’s Ltr to Senate Leadership