HB819 expands the scope of the Catastrophic Event Account and the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance Loan Fund to provide financial assistance to non-civilian federal employees. Previously, these funds were limited to civilian federal workers, but this bill ensures that all federal employees-regardless of their status-can now receive financial assistance if they work without pay during a government shutdown.

The Maryland State Senate passed HB819 on March 27, 2024 by a vote of 42 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this unnecessary expansion further entangles state resources in federal matters, increasing government dependence and burdening taxpayers with yet another bailout for federal employees. The overwhelming majority of federal jobs are unconstitutional, and Maryland is openly embracing big-government bureaucracy. The government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers.