WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 3012 · 119th Congress

Shutdown Fairness Act

IntroducedGovernment Operations and Politics
IntroducedOct 15, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
Passed HouseNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, Nov 7, 2025: Upon reconsideration, cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 53 - 43. Record Vote Number: 609. It would change 0 sections of existing law and would add 1 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

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S. 3012 doesn't change any existing section of law. It would create 1 new provision of its own. Read from the bill text as placed on the Senate calendar (Oct 16, 2025).

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Appropriations
What the words would change: every change, in place (0)

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.

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

    What it does

    Sourced

    Shutdown Fairness Act

    This bill provides appropriations to pay federal employees who work during a government shutdown.

    Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for federal agencies to provide standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other payments to excepted employees for work performed during any period in which interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations are not in effect for a fiscal year (i.e., a government shutdown). An excepted employee is an employee who is required to work during a government shutdown.

    Under current law, excepted employees are not paid until the government shutdown is over. This bill provides appropriations to pay excepted employees during a government shutdown. The bill also specifies that the term excepted employee includes certain contractors who support federal employees during a government shutdown and members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty.

    A federal agency may not use the funds provided by this bill during any period in which continuing appropriations are in effect for the purpose of paying excepted employees of the agency.

    The bill must take effect as if it had been enacted on September 30, 2025.

    Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in Senate, Oct 15, 2025).

    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. Oct 15, 2025Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

    Show all 10 recorded actions

    Recorded votes

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    1. Oct 23, 2025 · SenateCloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected 54–45
      On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed · needed three-fifths
      R 51 yes, 1 noI 0 yes, 2 noD 3 yes, 42 noEach member · Record
    2. Nov 7, 2025 · SenateCloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected 53–43
      On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed · needed three-fifths
      R 50 yes, 0 noI 0 yes, 2 noD 3 yes, 41 noEach member · Record

    Cosponsors

    • John Barrasso R-WY
    • Ted Budd R-NC
    • Bill Cassidy R-LA
    • Tom Cotton R-AR
    • Mike Crapo R-ID
    • John Hoeven R-ND
    • James Lankford R-OK
    • Mike Lee R-UT
    • David McCormick R-PA
    • James E. Risch R-ID
    • Rick Scott R-FL
    • Dan Sullivan R-AK
    Show 1 more cosponsors
    • Todd Young R-IN