HR1858: HR1858 Georgia's congressional delegation; pass the Essential Worker Pay Protection Act and codify permanent protections for essential federal employees during government shutdowns; urge

During federal government shutdowns, essential federal employees such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, military personnel, TSA officers, and federal medical staff must keep working even without pay until funding resumes. This resolution, called the Essential Worker Pay Protection Resolution, asks Georgia's members of Congress to introduce and pass the Essential Worker Pay Protection Act of 2025. The resolution does not change Georgia law itself; it is a formal request. It calls on Congress to ensure essential federal workers keep receiving pay during any shutdown, to guarantee retroactive backpay for furloughed or unpaid workers once the government reopens, and to create permanent federal protections preventing essential workers from ever being required to work without compensation again. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to Georgia's congressional delegation.

• Urges Georgia's congressional delegation to introduce and pass the federal Essential Worker Pay Protection Act of 2025.
• Calls for uninterrupted pay for essential federal employees during any future government shutdown.
• Asks Congress to guarantee retroactive backpay for furloughed or unpaid federal workers once government operations resume.
• Requests permanent federal protections so essential workers cannot be required to work without pay in future shutdowns.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation.

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

If Congress were to act on this request, essential federal workers in Georgia would keep receiving paychecks during shutdowns instead of working unpaid, reducing financial strain on households that live paycheck to paycheck. The resolution itself carries no legal force, only a formal message to Congress.

• The preamble names the resolution 'The Essential Worker Pay Protection Resolution.'
• The whereas clauses describe hardship faced by essential workers such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement, military, TSA staff, and federal medical personnel during shutdowns.
• The resolving clause urges Congress to pass the Essential Worker Pay Protection Act of 2025 to ensure uninterrupted pay during shutdowns.
• The resolving clause also calls for guaranteed retroactive backpay and permanent protections against unpaid work during future shutdowns.
• A 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 pay
• congressional delegation
• essential workers