A bill to provide that Federal employees who are furloughed or are not paid for performing essential services during a period of a lapse in appropriations, may receive a loan, paid at their standard rate of compensation, from the Thrift Savings Fund, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 27, 1996

Authorizes a Federal employee to borrow an amount from his or her account in the Thrift Savings Fund during any period of lapse of appropriations in FY 1996 if during such period the employee: (1) is furloughed as a result of the lapse; or (2) performs emergency services involving the safety of human life or the protection of property, and does not receive compensation for such services as a result of such lapse. Specifies loan conditions. Provides for payback of such a loan in installments from the employee's pay after the lapse ends. Declares that such a loan shall not be treated as a taxable distribution under the Internal Revenue Code.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD] · D–MD

Committees

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. [D-MD]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 27, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Feb 27, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1353)
Feb 27, 1996
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 27, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1576 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1576, 104th Congress: A bill to provide that Federal employees who are furloughed or are not paid for performing essential services during a period of a lapse in appropriations, may receive a loan, paid at their standard rate of compensation, from the Thrift Savings Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1576

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1576/BILLS-104s1576is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1576 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1576 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1576, 104th Congress: A bill to provide that Federal employees who are furloughed or are not paid for performing essential services during a period of a lapse in appropriations, may receive a loan, paid at their standard rate of compensation, from the Thrift Savings Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1576

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1576/BILLS-104s1576is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1576 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1576 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1576, 104th Congress: A bill to provide that Federal employees who are furloughed or are not paid for performing essential services during a period of a lapse in appropriations, may receive a loan, paid at their standard rate of compensation, from the Thrift Savings Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1576

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1576/BILLS-104s1576is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1576 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1576 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1576, 104th Congress: A bill to provide that Federal employees who are furloughed or are not paid for performing essential services during a period of a lapse in appropriations, may receive a loan, paid at their standard rate of compensation, from the Thrift Savings Fund, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1576

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-02-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s1576/BILLS-104s1576is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:06:47Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1576 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.