HR 1858: Georgia's congressional delegation; pass the Essential Worker Pay Protection Act and codify permanent protections for essential federal employees during government shutdowns; urge

Federal government shutdowns can force essential workers like air traffic controllers, TSA officers, law enforcement, military personnel, and federal medical staff to keep working without pay until Congress restores funding. This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it formally asks Georgia's congressional delegation in Washington to introduce and pass a federal bill called the Essential Worker Pay Protection Act of 2025. The resolution asks that this federal law guarantee uninterrupted pay for essential federal employees during any shutdown, require retroactive backpay for furloughed or unpaid workers once the government reopens, and create permanent protections so workers are never again required to work without pay during a shutdown. The Clerk of the House is directed to send copies of the resolution to Georgia's members of Congress.

• Urges Georgia's congressional delegation to introduce and pass the federal Essential Worker Pay Protection Act of 2025.
• Calls for the federal act to ensure essential federal employees receive uninterrupted pay during any government shutdown.
• Calls for guaranteed retroactive backpay for furloughed or unpaid federal workers once shutdowns end.
• Calls for permanent federal protections preventing essential workers from having to work without pay in future shutdowns.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to members of Georgia's congressional delegation.

Essential federal employees such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, security forces, TSA officers, and federal medical staff, particularly those working in or serving Georgia, along with Georgia's members of the U.S. House and Senate, who are the target of this request.

The resolution itself changes no law; it is a formal request from the Georgia House to Congress. If Congress acted on it, essential federal workers in Georgia and nationwide could avoid working without pay during shutdowns and would be guaranteed backpay once funding resumes.

• The resolution names itself 'The Essential Worker Pay Protection Resolution' in its opening whereas clause.
• It recites that federal shutdowns force essential workers to work without timely pay, harming financial stability, especially for middle and lower-income households.
• The operative resolving clause urges Georgia's congressional delegation to pass the Essential Worker Pay Protection Act of 2025.
• It specifies the requested federal law should ensure uninterrupted pay, guarantee retroactive backpay, and establish permanent protections against unpaid work during shutdowns.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Georgia's Congressional Delegation.

1. 2026-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-23House Hopper (House)

• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)Primary sponsor
• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• government shutdowns
• federal workers
• congressional delegation
• worker pay protections