GovCon Representatives Urge Congress to Extend Section 3610 Authority

Eleven associations have called on House and Senate Appropriations Committees to extend an authority that authorizes federal agencies to reimburse contractors for paid leave as they draft a continuing resolution.

The Section 3610 authority of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which is set to expire on Sept. 30, allows agencies to reimburse companies for paid leave offered to employees who cannot access work locations or telework during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of efforts to help retain workers, the associations said in a Wednesday letter to the congressional committees.

The organizations also cited a Government Accountability Office report published in July.

GAO interviewed 15 contractors about the effect of paid leave reimbursement on workforce retention and 12 of them said such a measure had a “great” or “moderate effect” on efforts to retain personnel.

“Such an extension does not require additional funds and will provide federal agencies with the flexibility to utilize Section 3610 as necessary while the pandemic landscape remains fluid and unpredictable,” the letter reads.

The letter’s signatories are the Aerospace Industries Association, Alliance for Digital Innovation, American Council of Engineering Companies, Associated General Contractors of America, Center for Procurement Advocacy, Computing Technology Industry Association, Intelligence and National Security Alliance, Information Technology Industry Council, National Defense Industrial Association, Professional Services Council and the Shipbuilders Council of America.

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