Bill · S. 2948· Senate(119-S-2948)
Help FEDS Act
- Introduced
- 9/30/2025
- Last activity
- 9/30/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Angela Alsobrooks
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Help FEDS Act aims to amend section 303 of the Social Security Act. It requires States to allow excepted Federal employees to apply for and receive unemployment compensation during a lapse in appropriations for fiscal years 2026 or 2027. These employees must be performing emergency work as defined by the Office of Personnel Management but are not being paid due to the lapse in appropriations. The bill includes provisions for employees to repay the compensation once they receive pay under section 1341(c)(2) of title 31. Additionally, the Secretary of Treasury is tasked with paying States for the compensation provided and any related administrative expenses.
Yes
Does this increase support for people who lose their jobs?+7
The bill requires states to allow excepted federal employees to receive unemployment compensation during a lapse in appropriations.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
The bill provides a temporary income safety net for federal employees facing pay gaps due to government shutdowns.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Unemployment Compensation for Excepted Employees: The bill would allow excepted Federal employees performing emergency work to apply for and receive unemployment compensation during a lapse in appropriations during fiscal years 2026 or 2027 (Section 2, paragraph (1)(A)).
-
Reimbursement of Administrative Costs: States would be paid an amount equal to 100 percent of the compensation provided plus any additional administrative expenses incurred in relation to such compensation (Section 2, paragraph (2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Requirement to Repay Compensation: Excepted Federal employees who receive pay under section 1341(c)(2) of title 31, United States Code, are required to repay the unemployment compensation they received to the State (Section 2, paragraph (1)(B)).
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Treatment of Unrepaid Funds as Overpayment: Any compensation not repaid to the State will be treated as an overpayment, and the State is allowed to recover those funds using its standard methods for recovering overpayments (Section 2, paragraph (1)(C)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Unemployment Benefits+7
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+3
- 9/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia