With a government shutdown looming, Maryland’s congressional delegation has introduced legislation to ensure federal employees forced to work without pay can access unemployment benefits.

Maryland Democrats U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Sarah Elfreth in introducing the Help Federal Employees During Shutdowns Act—the Help FEDS Act. The measure would allow essential workers, who must continue reporting for duty even during a lapse in funding, to apply for unemployment insurance.

“Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country,” Van Hollen stated. “They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with. That is why we are fightin

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