U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) announced today he was a cosponsor of the Shutdown Fairness Act, legislation that would provide regular paychecks for “excepted” employees who work during a government shutdown. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and is cosponsored by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

“It is ridiculous that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are blocking funding for the wall from being included in the government funding legislation. We have to build the wall to reduce the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants. While we continue to negotiate, it is important that essential personnel, including air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and Coast Guard service members, be paid while they continue working during the shutdown. Democrats need to come to the table so we can address the border crisis.”

Background on the Shutdown Fairness Act

• Provides pay to an estimated 420,000 personnel currently working without pay, including personnel from: Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, State, Transportation, Treasury, Forest Service, Farm Service Agency, NASA, and SEC.
• Authorizes the use of unappropriated funds to pay personnel previously designated as “excepted” in accordance with section 124 of OMB Circular No. A-11. This is similar to the 2013 Pay Our Military Act, passed by the 113th Congress. 
• “Excepted” individuals include those who are performing emergency work, or performing work involving the safety of human life or protection of property.