WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and 17 Senate Democrats to introduce the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act, legislation to protect New Mexico federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ government shutdown. Republicans control the White House, the Senate, and the House.
“Federal workers make our government work for New Mexico families — from caring for our veterans to maintaining our public lands and keeping our communities safe. They shouldn’t have to suffer because Republicans in Congress refuse to come to the table and work with Democrats to lower health care costs,” said Heinrich. “Every hardworking New Mexican deserves the dignity of financial stability and security. The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act will help ensure that the folks who keep our country running aren’t left wondering how they’ll pay their bills or keep their homes during Trump’s manufactured crisis.”
The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act addresses the threat of federal workers and contractors losing their homes, falling behind on student loans and other bills, having their car repossessed, or losing their health insurance because they have been furloughed during Trump’s shutdown or required to work without pay. Specifically, the legislation would protect impacted workers from:
The protection would last during and 30 days following a government shutdown to give workers a chance to keep up with their bills. Trump and Republicans’ government shutdown, now in its second week, impacts thousands of federal workers and federal contractor employees in New Mexico and nationwide.
The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act is led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). Alongside Heinrich, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).
The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act is supported by the National Treasury Employees Union, International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers, National Federation of Federal Employees-IAM, American Federation of Government Employees, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, UNITE HERE, LIUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America), and the Transport Workers Union.
Background on How Trump’s Government Shutdown is Harming New Mexicans:
On October 1, Trump shut down the federal government after his Republican party failed to work with Democrats to pass a bipartisan government funding bill that serves the American people and lowers the cost of health care.
In addition to Trump’s government shutdown crisis, Republicans’ Big, Bad Bill has created a health care crisis by driving up the cost of health care — causing New Mexicans’ premiums to skyrocket.
Heinrich has made clear that he is eager to vote for a bipartisan budget that fixes the harm Trump and Republicans have caused to New Mexicans’ pocketbooks and access to health care.
Last month, Senate Republicans blocked legislation to keep the government open and address the health care crisis they have created by refusing to extend the enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), which was passed into law by Heinrich and Democrats in 2021 and expires at the end of this calendar year. Health insurance costs will rise significantly for individuals and families in New Mexico and nationwide because Trump and Republicans refuse to extend the enhanced APTC.
Heinrich cosponsors the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025 to make the enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credit permanent for New Mexicans and build upon record health care marketplace enrollment.
Earlier this month, during an interview, Heinrich said, “If my Republican colleagues can afford to give a $3.4 trillion tax cut to Elon Musk, then we can afford to hold down people’s health care costs.”
###