Bill Details
HR.1597 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-26 - Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Introduced Date
2025-02-26
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Committees
View committees (1)
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (13)
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-Virginia-11]
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-Ohio-11]
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-Georgia-4]
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-New Jersey-10]
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-Nevada-1]
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-Michigan-13]
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-Michigan-12]
- Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-District of Columbia]
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-Illinois-3]
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-California-43]
- Rep. Green, Al [D-Texas-9]
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-Virginia-10]
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-Wisconsin-2]
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would let certain former federal civil service workers keep or join federal health insurance after they were removed from their jobs. It applies to people who lost their civil service jobs during a set period in 2025 and who meet specific conditions, such as being fired without cause, having a recent performance review that was at least fully successful, being pregnant when removed, or having been diagnosed with cancer in the previous five years. The bill also says the government’s share of the health coverage costs would come from money saved by a federal government efficiency program.
- It covers some people who were removed from civil service jobs between January 20, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
- To qualify, a person must fit at least one of these situations: fired without cause, had a recent strong performance review, was pregnant at the time, or had cancer within the past five years.
- Qualified former workers could continue or enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.
- The bill says the cost of the government’s and worker’s contributions would come from federal funds saved through the government efficiency effort.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1597 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1597
To provide that former civil service employees who were wrongfully
fired are eligible to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits
Program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 26, 2025
Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide that former civil service employees who were wrongfully
fired are eligible to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits
Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Compassion for Vulnerable and
Struggling Workers Act''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY TO ENROLL IN FEHBP FOR FIRED CIVIL SERVICE
EMPLOYEES.
(a) Eligibility To Enroll.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any individual described in paragraph (2) may elect to
continue coverage under, or enroll in, a health benefits plan
under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Individuals.--An individual described in this paragraph
is any individual who was involuntarily removed from a civil
service position during the period beginning on January 20,
2025, and ending on January 1, 2026 and--
(A) who was removed without cause;
(B) whose most recent performance review was at
least fully successful (or equivalent);
(C) who was pregnant at the time of the removal; or
(D) who was diagnosed with cancer during the 5-year
period preceding the date of removal.
(b) Contributions.--The Government and individual contributions for
the health benefits of any individual who makes an affirmative election
to be covered under such chapter 89 under subsection (a) shall be
derived from any Federal funds saved by the activities of the United
States DOGE Service (established by the executive order relating to
``Establishing and Implementing the President's `Department of
Government Efficiency''', issued on January 20, 2025).
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