Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) and Don Beyer (Va.-08) were joined by 52 colleagues in urging major utility companies to suspend late penalties and utility shutoffs for federal employees and contractors amid the federal government shutdown.
In their letter, the lawmakers called on leading electricity, water, and broadband providers to take immediate steps to protect affected workers from additional financial hardship as the shutdown continues.
“In light of the ongoing federal government shutdown, we write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs and late payment penalties for federal workers or federal contractors affected by the shutdown. Both essential and involuntarily furloughed employees are currently without pay,” wrote the lawmakers. “These workers should not face the additional hardship of losing access to running water, electricity, or internet simply because their paychecks have stopped through no fault of their own.”
The lawmakers continued, “The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees that federal employees will receive full back pay once a lapse in appropriations ends, ensuring they can meet their outstanding debts accrued during the shutdown. Therefore, we urge you to temporarily withhold all utility service disconnections and suspend late payment penalties for federal employees and provide flexible payment plans once their pay resumes,”
Recipients of the letter included electricity provider associations Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the American Public Power Association (APPA), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), water utility associations the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), and broadband associations CTIA and USTelecom, all of whom were encouraged to share it with their members.
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Full text of the letter can be found here or below.
Dear Utility Providers:
In light of the ongoing federal government shutdown, we write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs and late payment penalties for federal workers or federal contractors affected by the shutdown. Both essential and involuntarily furloughed employees are currently without pay. These workers should not face the additional hardship of losing access to running water, electricity, or internet simply because their paychecks have stopped through no fault of their own.
Federal employees dedicate their lives to serving our country, often in thankless yet vital roles that keep our country safe and our economy running. These are apolitical positions and the individuals who fill them should not bear the consequences of political gridlock and the current standstill that has led to this shutdown.
While Congress works to reopen the government, millions of public servants will soon begin missing paychecks. Many are parents and caregivers whose families depend on their income. They should not have to worry about whether they can keep the lights on at home. The federal workforce has endured enough uncertainty this year, and financially strained households tend to forgo paying for other essential needs, such as food and health care, in order to avoid utility shutoffs. A utility shutoff would make these families more likely to be exposed to unsafe household conditions that lack safe temperatures, water, or communication. This should be prevented by all means possible.
Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with existing statutory protections across the country. Over two-thirds of states have laws on the books to protect vulnerable populations from utility shutoffs. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees that federal employees will receive full back pay once a lapse in appropriations ends, ensuring they can meet their outstanding debts accrued during the shutdown. Therefore, we urge you to temporarily withhold all utility service disconnections and suspend late payment penalties for federal employees and provide flexible payment plans once their pay resumes.
Shutdowns cause atypical and undue economic hardship. We appreciate your consideration and sincerely hope you understand the urgency and necessity of protecting federal workers under these exceptional circumstances.
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