SEATTLE - With the Sept. 30 deadline for the government to agree on a Fiscal Year 2025 budget, concerns are growing that Republicans and Democrats will not strike a deal, creating a new federal government shutdown.
Republican U.S. Representatives Monica De La Cruz, of McAllen, and Tony Gonzales, of San Antonio, were two of nine lawmakers to propose the measure on Sept 12. It is currently pending in the House Appropriations Committee, as reported by Border Report.
The proposed "Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act" would allow salaries and expenses of frontline agents and certain officers who work during a shutdown in Fiscal Year 2025 to still be paid, as Congresswoman De La Cruz considers it is "unacceptable" since they stand as "our first line of defense.
Funding for the government runs out at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, and former President Donald Trump is urging Republicans to force a shutdown unless certain demands are met.
They released a stopgap bill that would keep money flowing through March 28 and tie it to the SAVE Act, a Republican-led bill to overhaul voting laws nationwide by requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
"This bill guarantees that our Border Patrol and customs agents would receive their paychecks and not have to worry about keeping food on the table for their families as they work to keep our communities safe," De La Cruz said.
Among some of the advocates for the bill pushed by Texas Republicans was the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents. Earlier this week, it announced its endorsement for De La Cruz as she runs for a second term in Congress.
"Her dedication to ensuring our agents have the support they need, and her leadership in securing our borders, makes her an invaluable ally in our mission to protect America's borders," the National Border Patrol Council said in a statement.
According to DHS data, nearly three-in-four employees, more than 185,000 people, would be required to continue working through a shutdown without receiving a paycheck.
On top of DHS employees, a possible shutdown would also affect other areas, for example at airports. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers would be required to work without pay, potentially leading to significant delays and longer wait times for travelers at airports across the U.S..
It would also have an long-term impact on hiring and onboarding within agencies, pausing activities until the government reopens.
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