I know that we need to address this injustice.

You may have seen this new claim from the current occupant of the White House: he seems to think he can deny back pay for federal employees impacted by Republicans' government shutdown.

Yeah, no.

The law is clear: federal workers must receive back pay. And I’ve just introduced a bill, the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, to ensure it for federal contract workers as well, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services.

It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15 per hour. And right now, they have no assurances that they will be able to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown.

As a former hospitality worker and unpaid Congressional intern who worked three jobs, I know what it is to live paycheck-to-paycheck. I know what it is to struggle to make ends meet. So I am asking for you to help push our bill forward by demonstrating it has loud, broad support from the American people.

Add your name to become a grassroots cosponsor of my Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, and let’s make sure that people who are being harmed by Republicans’ cruel games are made whole.

ADD MY NAME

I wish we could say the moment we find ourselves in is unprecedented. But unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Republicans have shut down the government and manufactured a crisis for our communities.

In January 2019, I was sworn into Congress during the last government shutdown Trump caused.

The first piece of legislation I introduced as a Congresswoman was to provide relief for federal contractors who were being held hostage by that shutdown — many of whom would have to spend months and years recovering from the financial toll of those missing paychecks.

Government shutdowns are destabilizing events with disastrous consequences, and we can’t let history repeat itself. We must act to address the damage that Republicans have done by choosing to shut down the government instead of supporting workers and families. I will continue working to protect the lives and livelihoods of people in the Massachusetts 7th and beyond who are reeling from the GOP’s callous cruelty.

Together, we must insist upon policy solutions that center the people who are most at risk, and that includes my legislation to ensure back pay for federal contract workers. Will you add your name to say that Congress must pass my Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act?

In solidarity,

Ayanna