WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) announced he will introduce legislation on Thursday to immediately pay federal workers affected by the current lapse in appropriations.

The legislation would appropriate funds for all federal employees to be paid their standard pay during the shutdown regardless of their furlough status. With this bill, once the shutdown ends and regular appropriations are made, the amounts paid to compensate the federal employees will be deducted from the department’s full year appropriations to avoid any windfalls for the department.

“I’ve made it clear that I do not believe government shutdowns are ever the right answer,” said Senator Gardner. “We must reopen the government, and I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a solution. In the interim, our federal workers should not be deprived of their paychecks. My legislation provides peace of mind for our 800,000 government employees who are struggling to make ends meet. I’ve heard firsthand from Coloradans who have been impacted by the ongoing shutdown. These families are in real pain and deserve relief.”