119-HR-5924 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HR 5924 Pay Our Capitol Police Act
H.R. 5924 would keep U.S. Capitol Police officers, key support staff, and certain contractors paid during any FY2026 government shutdown, retroactive to October 1, 2025, until regular or continuing funding is enacted or until September 30, 2026; it’s pitched as a security carve‑out, with supporters citing safety and pay certainty and critics warning that carve‑outs can reduce pressure to end shutdowns.
Headline Summary
Keep Capitol Police pay flowing during a shutdown so officers and essential support don’t miss paychecks while Congress negotiates broader funding.
What It Does
The bill creates a temporary, automatic funding backstop for the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) in fiscal year 2026. If there’s a funding lapse, it authorizes “such sums as necessary” to pay salaries, benefits (like health and retirement), overtime, hazard pay, recruitment/retention bonuses, and to pay contractors who support USCP operations. It applies retroactively from October 1, 2025, and lasts until Congress passes regular or continuing funding for the USCP/Legislative Branch or until September 30, 2026—whichever comes first. It can’t be used when a continuing resolution for USCP is already in effect, and any spending is later charged to the eventual appropriation.
- Who is covered
- USCP officers deemed “excepted” or doing emergency work, civilian staff supporting them, and certain contractors supporting USCP operations.
- When it triggers
- Only during a FY2026 funding lapse for USCP (not while a USCP continuing resolution is active).
- Effective period
- Applies as if in effect October 1, 2025; ends when FY2026 USCP or Legislative Branch funding is enacted (including a CR) or on September 30, 2026.
- Budget treatment
- Payments are later charged to the regular appropriation once enacted.
Who’s For It
- Sponsor: Rep. Bryan Steil (R‑WI).
- Members who argue Congress must guarantee uninterrupted Capitol security and avoid forcing essential officers to work without pay during shutdowns.
- Supporters of targeted protections for law enforcement during funding lapses.
Who’s Against It
- Lawmakers who oppose piecemeal shutdown carve‑outs, arguing they reduce pressure to resolve the overall budget standoff.
- Fiscal or process critics who prefer a comprehensive continuing resolution or full appropriations rather than agency‑by‑agency exceptions.
- Those concerned that selective backstops can create inequities among federal workers during a shutdown.
What’s Next
Status as of November 4, 2025: introduced in the House and referred to the Appropriations Committee. Next typical steps would be committee consideration and possible markup, a House floor vote, then Senate action. If both chambers pass identical text, it would go to the President for signature or veto.
Discussion