1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Fairness for Federal Contractors Act of 2019”.
Fairness for Federal Contractors Act of 2019
A BILL
To provide back pay to Federal contractors, and for other purposes.
2. Appropriation
There is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, such sums as may be necessary for each Federal agency subject to the lapse in appropriations that began on or about December 22, 2018, for adjustments in the price of contracts of such agency under section 3.
3. Back compensation for Federal contractors in connection with the lapse in appropriations
In general— Each Federal agency subject to the lapse in appropriations that began on or about December 22, 2018, shall adjust the price of any contract of such agency for which the contractor was ordered to suspend, delay, or interrupt all or part of the work of such contract, or stop all or any part of the work called for in such contract, as a result of the lapse in appropriations to compensate the contractor for reasonable costs incurred—
to provide compensation, at an employee’s standard rate of compensation, to any employee who was furloughed or laid off, or who was not working, who experienced a reduction of hours, or who experienced a reduction in compensation, as a result of the lapse in appropriations (for the period of the lapse); or
to restore paid leave taken by any employee during the lapse in appropriations, if the contractor required employees to use paid leave as a result of the lapse in appropriations.
Limitation on amount of weekly compensation covered by adjustment— The maximum amount of weekly compensation of an employee for which an adjustment may be made under subsection (a) may not exceed the lesser of—
the employee's actual weekly compensation; or
$1,400.
Timing of adjustments— The adjustments required by subsection (a) shall be made as soon as practicable after the end of the lapse in appropriations described in that subsection.
Definitions— In this section:
The term compensation has the meaning given that term in section 6701 of title 41, United States Code.
The term employee means the following:
A service employee as that term is defined in section 6701(3) of title 41, United States Code, except that the term also includes service employees described in subparagraph (C) of that section notwithstanding that subparagraph.
A laborer or mechanic covered by section 3142 of title 40, United States Code.