First appeared on FOX: House Republicans are working to protect the pay of U.S. troops in the event of a partial government shutdown.
Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) plans to reintroduce the military pay bill on Thursday with the support of at least 20 House members (16 Republicans and four Democrats).
This came a day after more than a dozen House Republicans helped defeat Speaker Mike Johnson's plan, a so-called continuing resolution (CR), to avert a partial government shutdown by extending current-year budget levels through March.
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Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) has introduced a bill that would ensure military and civilian employees get paid during a government shutdown. (Getty Images)
The Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate need to reach some kind of agreement on funding the federal government by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown just weeks before Election Day.
“With all the talk and uncertainty about government funding, it's really important that we get the message out to our service members that they're going to get their paychecks,” Kiggans, a military veteran, told Fox News Digital.
Her previous bill garnered 118 co-sponsors and was introduced in late September 2023. At the time, Congress was also hurtling toward a partial government shutdown, with no deal in sight until the last minute.
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Johnson's bill also included the Protecting American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would have added a proof of citizenship requirement to the voter registration process, but Democratic leaders view the bill as unworkable.
Three Democrats crossed party lines and voted in favor of his plan, while 14 Republicans who opposed CR in principle joined in defeating the plan.
This comes after Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to avert a government shutdown failed. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
But Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has consistently vowed not to allow a government shutdown.
But Kiggans' bill signals growing Republican anxiety about the possibility of federal programs stalling and thousands of workers being furloughed.
The bill would extend pay for all military branches, including the Coast Guard, which Kiggans said was excluded from military funding protections during past shutdowns.
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“This insurance also covers defense contractors and civilians who are essential to the military service,” she said, “and gives military families peace of mind that they don't have to worry.” [whether they are] Whether I get paid or not.”
Asked if Wednesday's vote added to fears of a possible shutdown, Kiggans said there was “a lot of uncertainty in this Congress.”
“It's unfortunate that we couldn't pass a budget bill on time, and I think the American people would agree,” Kiggans said.
She said she would have preferred to spend part of the August recess working on the 12 budget proposals that Congress must pass each year, rather than fighting for more time in the CR.
“Am I surprised it didn't pass? No, I think it would have passed if things had gone differently,” Mr. Kiggans said of Mr. Johnson's Conservative amendment, which his allies had hoped would be a strong opening shot in negotiations between the House and Senate.
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“But we have to keep trying and we're hopeful that something will be passed soon,” Kiggans said.
He said his office had told Johnson that a bill was on the way but warned him that it was unlikely to be brought to a vote by the full House of Commons unless a shutdown was imminent.
“My gut feeling is that until we really face that reality, they probably won't put it on the table,” Kiggans said.
