A Republican bill with 13 Republican cosponsors · See all 13 cosponsors
Last activity — 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.
Introduced, nothing more yet
Formally proposed, and not yet handed to a committee.
Nearly every bill is sent to a committee within days. Introduction alone is not a sign of support, of momentum, or of any likelihood of passing — any member may introduce any bill.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
How Congress voted
- See who voted how →A vote to end debate and allow a final vote · 11/07/2025
What this bill would do
The Shutdown Fairness Act aims to provide funds for the pay and allowances of excepted Federal employees during lapses in appropriations. It defines excepted employees to include agency employees performing emergency work, certain contractors, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty. The bill appropriates necessary sums to agency heads to cover standard rates of pay, benefits, and other regular payments. These funds are available until regular or continuing appropriations are enacted for the agency. The Act is designed to take effect retroactively as of September 30, 2025.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +3
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
The bill ensures that excepted employees receive their standard rates of pay, benefits, and differentials during funding lapses.
- Scored +2
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
Federal employees' income stability is protected during government shutdowns through the provision of pay and benefits.
- Scored +1
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill protects pay and allowances for active duty members of the Armed Forces during funding lapses.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill appropriates new sums to cover pay and benefits during periods of lapsed appropriations.
What Congress actually voted on
2 recorded votes have been taken on this bill.
- The Senate: a vote to end debate and allow a final vote In the Senate, debate can continue indefinitely unless 60 senators vote to end it. This vote is that attempt. It decides whether the Senate may vote on the thing at all — not whether the thing passes. A failed cloture vote usually ends the matter without anyone ever voting on its merits. Blocked 54 yes · 45 no
10/23/2025 · Roll call 585 · recorded as “On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 3012”
- The Senate: a vote to end debate and allow a final vote In the Senate, debate can continue indefinitely unless 60 senators vote to end it. This vote is that attempt. It decides whether the Senate may vote on the thing at all — not whether the thing passes. A failed cloture vote usually ends the matter without anyone ever voting on its merits. Blocked 53 yes · 43 no
11/07/2025 · Roll call 609 · recorded as “On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 3012”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Pay and Benefits for Federal Employees: The bill provides sums necessary for standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, and benefits for excepted employees (Section 2(b)). This ensures that those performing excepted work receive their regular compensation even during a lapse in appropriations.
-
Support for Contractors and Military: The definition of excepted employees includes contractors providing support to excepted employees and members of the Armed Forces on active duty (Section 2(a)(2)). This ensures these specific groups are included in the pay protections provided by the bill.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the text.
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 middle-income households be better off under this? — Federal employees' income stability is protected during government shutdowns through the provision of pay and benefits. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill protects pay and allowances for active duty members of the Armed Forces during funding lapses.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill ensures that excepted employees receive their standard rates of pay, benefits, and differentials during funding lapses. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill appropriates new sums to cover pay and benefits during periods of lapsed appropriations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill provides a mechanism to ensure federal employees are paid regularly despite legislative delays.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill includes members of the Armed Forces on active duty as excepted employees entitled to regular pay and allowances during a lapse.
No amendments submitted yet for this bill.
- 11/7/2025
- Motion to proceed to consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3012 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 585) agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S7996)
- Motion by Senator Thune to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3012 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 585) agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (CR S7996)
- 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.
- 10/23/2025
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 54 - 45. Record Vote Number: 585. (CR S7720)
- Motion by Senator Thune to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 3012 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 585) made in Senate.
- 10/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7184-7185)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7185)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/20/2025
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 10/16/2025
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 191.
- 10/15/2025
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Tom CottonRepublican · Arkansas
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana