James Walkinshaw (D-VA)
Federal Employee Records Relief Act
A Democratic bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Federal Employee Records Relief Act. It sets up a temporary process for former federal employees who left their jobs on or after January 20, 2025, to fix paperwork issues. Under this bill, these workers can ask for copies of their personnel records. They can also ask to fix errors related to their separation, pay, leave, or benefits documentation. Additionally, the bill provides help with understanding benefits enrollment status, coverage end dates, and continuation options. People have four years from the date the bill is enacted to submit their requests.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill establishes a formal process for former federal employees to obtain personnel records and correct documentation errors, improving administrative transparency.
- Scored +3
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Former federal employees who left their jobs since January 2025, including younger workers, benefit from assistance in correcting personnel records and managing benefit continuation options.
- Scored +3
Would people in middle age be better off under this?
Middle-aged former federal employees gain access to a structured process to fix payroll, leave, and benefits documentation errors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Records: Under Section 2(a)(1), the Director of the Office of Personnel Management must provide former federal employees with copies of relevant personnel records, including separation-related actions like SF-50s. This helps everyday people easily get the official paperwork they need.
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Fixing Paperwork Errors: Under Section 2(a)(2), the Director and the last employing agency must fix covered personnel record errors, such as missing or incorrect personnel actions. This helps people straighten out mistakes in their official work history, pay, or leave status.
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Benefits Support: Under Section 2(a)(3), the Director must provide written information and coordination assistance regarding benefits enrollment status, coverage end dates, and continuation options. This helps former workers figure out their health benefits and coverage choices.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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No Job Separation Changes: Under Section 2(b)(3)(B), the bill does not require any government entity to change how a job separation is characterized, such as whether it was a resignation, retirement, or removal, unless there is a final legal order or settlement. This means the bill will not help people who want to change the official reason they left their job through this specific process alone.
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Strict Time Limit: Under Section 2(b)(3)(C), requests must be submitted during a four-year period starting from the date of the Act's enactment, and any requests sent after that will not be accepted. This means anyone who misses this four-year window loses the chance to use this temporary relief process.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged former federal employees gain access to a structured process to fix payroll, leave, and benefits documentation errors. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-income households of former federal employees are helped by administrative corrections to pay, leave, and health benefit documentation. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Older former federal employees and annuitants benefit from support regarding benefits enrollment status and records corrections. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Former federal employees who left their jobs since January 2025, including younger workers, benefit from assistance in correcting personnel records and managing benefit continuation options. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Former federal employees who are also veterans may benefit from corrected personnel and separation records, although uniformed services are excluded from the specific definition.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes a formal process for former federal employees to obtain personnel records and correct documentation errors, improving administrative transparency.
- 10/1/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Donald BeyerDemocrat · Virginia
Steny HoyerDemocrat · Maryland
Glenn IveyDemocrat · Maryland
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Suhas SubramanyamDemocrat · Virginia
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan