S.Amdt. 420

Mrs. Shaheen submitted amendment SA 420 to the concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government. The purpose of this amendment is to add a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to preserving public safety and national security.

What It Aims to Change or Add

The amendment aims to allow the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate to revise committee allocations, aggregates, and other appropriate levels in the resolution. It also allows the Chairman to make adjustments to the pay-as-you-go ledger for legislation relating to preserving public safety and the national security of the United States.

This legislation may include exempting specific employees from executive orders and directives from the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget. The measures that these employees could be exempted from include:

• A Federal hiring freeze
• A deferred resignation program
• Removing employees in a probationary period

The employees who may be exempted are:

• Employees who work at naval shipyards
• Other employees whose job duties are critical to protecting the national security of the United States
• Employees whose job duties involve protecting public safety, which includes screening for avian flu or supporting vaccination efforts

These adjustments can be made as long as the legislation does not increase the deficit over the total period of fiscal years 2025 through 2034.