SAMDT 311 — To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to preventing the indiscriminate termination of Federal employees who protect the health or safety of Americans, which may include scientists, emergency preparedness staff, frontline health care workers, drug or medical device reviewers, or other employees at the Department of Health and Human Services.

AMENDS

SCONRES 7 — An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

PASSED SENATE

AMENDMENT PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 3

Proposed

Considered

Disposed

Proposed
Considered
Disposed

DISPOSITION

FAILED

FEB 21, 2025

“Amendment SA 311 not agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.”

what this changes

This amendment tried to create a special budget placeholder to protect specific Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees from being fired in mass layoffs. It was intended to cover roles like scientists and emergency workers, but the Senate voted against adding it to the budget plan.

WHY IT MATTERS

If adopted, this would have made it easier for the Senate to pass future laws protecting scientists and health experts from being fired, provided those laws did not increase the national debt.

WHO IS AFFECTED

This primarily would have affected federal employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), such as drug reviewers and emergency preparedness staff, as well as the public who relies on their safety oversight.

AMENDS

SCONRES 7PASSED SENATE

An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.

OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL

KEY POINTS

low

Targeted HHS staff

The focus was on protecting specialized roles like medical device reviewers and frontline health workers from being fired without specific cause.

low

Deficit-neutral requirement

Any future legislation enabled by this fund would have been required to pay for itself rather than adding to the deficit.

low

Budget placeholder

This was not a direct law to stop firings, but rather a tool to allow such a law to be passed later under specific budget rules.

GLOSSARY

Deficit-neutral reserve fund: A procedural tool in a budget resolution that allows for future legislation on a specific topic as long as it does not increase the overall government deficit.
Concurrent resolution: A type of measure that sets rules or opinions for Congress but does not have the force of law and does not require the President's signature.

Official sources

SAMDT 311 on Congress.gov

This analysis used: Amendment purpose · Latest action · Amended bill: summary

ACTION TIMELINE

6 EVENTS

FEB 21, 25

Amendment SA 311 not agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

FLOOR

FEB 21, 25

Amendment SA 311 proposed by Senator Blunt Rochester. (consideration: CR S1117-1118) To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to preventing the indiscriminate termination of Federal employees who protect the health or safety of Americans, which may include scientists, emergency preparedness staff, frontline health care workers, drug or medical device reviewers, or other employees at the Department of Health and Human Services.

FLOOR

FEB 21, 25

Senate amendment proposed (on the floor): Amendment SA 311 proposed by Senator Blunt Rochester.

FLOOR

FEB 21, 25

Senate amendment not agreed to: Amendment SA 311 not agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

FLOOR

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