WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 8029 · 119th Congress

Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act

Passed HouseEconomics and Public Finance
IntroducedMar 20, 2026
Passed HouseMar 26, 2026
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, Apr 2, 2026: Received in the Senate. The House passed it 218–206. It would change 2 sections of existing law and would add 125 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 8029 would change 2 sections of existing law, and would create 125 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as passed by the House (Mar 26, 2026).

Public Law 108-334 An earlier law, changed directly

5 U.S.C. 5547 Limitation on premium pay

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 3 References
  • Sec. 4 Explanatory statement
  • Sec. 5 Statement of appropriations
  • Sec. 101
  • Sec. 102
  • Sec. 103
  • Sec. 104
  • Sec. 105
  • Sec. 106
  • Sec. 107
  • Sec. 108
  • Sec. 109
  • Sec. 201
  • Sec. 202
  • Sec. 203
  • Sec. 204
  • Sec. 205
  • Sec. 206
  • Sec. 207
  • Sec. 208
  • Sec. 209
  • Sec. 210
  • Sec. 211
  • Sec. 212
  • Sec. 213
  • Sec. 214
  • Sec. 215
  • Sec. 216
  • Sec. 217
  • Sec. 218
  • Sec. 219
  • Sec. 220
  • Sec. 221
  • Sec. 222
  • Sec. 224
  • Sec. 225
  • Sec. 226
  • Sec. 227
  • Sec. 228
  • Sec. 229

and 85 more, listed in the bill's text.

What the words would change: every change, in place (2)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. Public Law 108-334(b)changedby H.R. 8029 Sec. 223

    The bill says: Section 515(b) of Public Law 108–334 (49 U.S.C. 44945 note) is amended by striking "report" each place it appears (including in the subsection heading) and inserting "briefing" and by striking "transmit to" and inserting "provide".

    Bill text

  2. 5 U.S.C. 5547changedby H.R. 8029 Sec. 237(a)

    The bill says: Section 118 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 (5 U.S.C. 5547 note) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting "(or, for 2024, to the extent that such aggregate amount would exceed the per annum rate of salary payable under section 104 of title 3, United States Code)" before the period at the end.

    Bill text · Current law (5 U.S.C. 5547)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act

This bill provides appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the remainder of FY2026. It also ends the partial DHS shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, because the continuing resolution (CR) that was funding DHS expired and a regular FY2026 DHS appropriations bill had not been enacted.

Specifically, the bill provides appropriations to DHS for Departmental Management, Intelligence, Situational Awareness, and Oversight, including

• the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management;

• the Management Directorate;

• Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness; and

• the Office of Inspector General.

In addition, the bill provides appropriations for Security, Enforcement, and Investigations, including

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection,

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,

• the Transportation Security Administration,

• the U.S. Coast Guard, and

• the U.S. Secret Service.

The bill provides appropriations for Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, including

• the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and

• the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The bill provides appropriations for Research, Development, Training, and Services, including

Read the whole official summary (256 words, about 1 min)

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,

• the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and

• the Science and Technology Directorate.

The bill also authorizes back pay, in accordance with current law, for federal employees who were affected by the partial DHS shutdown.

Finally, the bill ratifies and approves certain obligations that were incurred during the partial DHS shutdown, including obligations incurred to maintain the essential level of activity to protect life and property and bring about an orderly termination of government functions.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Mar 20, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. Mar 26, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 104). Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  2. Mar 20, 2026Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 18 recorded actions

Recorded votes

Sourced
  1. Mar 26, 2026 · HousePassed 218–206
    On Passage · needed a majority
    R 213 yes, 0 noI 1 yes, 0 noD 4 yes, 206 noEach member · Record
1 other recorded vote (procedure and amendments)
  1. Mar 26, 2026 · HouseFailed 210–215
    On Motion to Recommit · needed a majority
    R 0 yes, 214 noI 0 yes, 1 noD 210 yes, 0 noEach member · Record