H.R. 6044 — Pay Our Patriots Act

This section establishes continuing appropriations, from any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to provide pay and allowances at pre-lapse rates to essential Armed Forces and FAA personnel during a covered lapse in appropriations. Such appropriations continue until the earlier of enactment of the applicable regular appropriations act or continuing resolution, or the last day of the fiscal year in which the lapse begins.

This section directs the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation to continue incurring obligations and disbursing payments for their respective covered employees' pay and allowances as if appropriations had been enacted timely. It also makes funds appropriated by this Act immediately available and exempt from any reduction or sequestration.

This section establishes definitions for purposes of this Act. Those terms include (1) "covered employee," defined as a member of the Armed Forces (including reserve components) performing active service during a covered lapse in appropriations, or a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) civilian employee determined by the FAA Administrator to perform essential duties for national airspace system safety (e.g., air traffic controllers, safety inspectors, operational support technicians); (2) "covered pay and allowances," defined as pay, allowances, benefits, statutory bonuses, and retired pay to which a covered employee is entitled under law; and (3) "covered lapse in appropriations," defined as any period on or after enactment during which appropriations are unavailable for any Armed Forces component or the FAA.