H.R.2951 - Easter Monday Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2951, the Easter Monday Act of 2025, proposes amending Title 5 of the United States Code to designate Easter Monday as a legal public holiday. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr. Moore of West Virginia and Mr. McDowell and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
If enacted, federal employees would receive a paid day off on Easter Monday. This would bring the total number of federal holidays to eleven.
The bill's short title is the "Easter Monday Act of 2025".
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to grant federal employees a paid day off on Easter Monday. This would result in a temporary closure of federal offices and a potential increase in leisure activities.
The economic impact would likely be minor, with some potential increase in spending related to travel and recreation. The bill would also require adjustments to federal payroll and scheduling.
Potential Benefits
- Provides federal employees with an additional paid holiday, potentially improving morale and work-life balance.
- Could stimulate local economies through increased spending on leisure activities during the holiday.
- May align the US with some other countries that recognize Easter Monday as a holiday.
- Offers a day for families to spend time together.
- Could provide a boost to the tourism and hospitality industries.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increases the cost of government operations due to paid time off for federal employees.
- May disrupt federal services and productivity on Easter Monday.
- Could be perceived as favoring one religious holiday over others, potentially raising concerns about separation of church and state.
- May create scheduling conflicts for businesses and individuals who rely on federal services.
- Could set a precedent for adding other religious or cultural holidays to the federal holiday calendar, further increasing costs and disruptions.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to be generally aligned with the US Constitution. While the First Amendment addresses the separation of church and state, designating Easter Monday as a federal holiday does not necessarily violate this principle, as holidays can be justified on secular grounds (e.g., promoting rest and recreation).
Congress has the power to establish holidays under its general legislative authority (Article I, Section 8). The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or protections.
However, some may argue that it shows preferential treatment to Christianity, which could be seen as a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).