Easter Monday Federal Holiday Bill Introduced in Senate
Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt has introduced legislation that would make the Monday after Easter a federal holiday.
“This isn’t a radical idea,” he said, according to Fox News. “It’s a federal recognition of a tradition that is central to Western civilization — a tradition that’s already recognized as a public holiday in nations across (and beyond) the West, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Western Europe.”
Schmitt cited a poll from the National Retail Federation that found that more than eight in 10 Americans celebrated Easter in 2023.
“Easter is a floating holiday, it can fall from March 22 to April 25,” he said. “The only two-month gap in our federal holiday calendar is April-May. An Easter Monday holiday fills the gap—creating a three-day weekend when workers and families need it most. Pro-worker. Pro-family. Pro-faith.
“There are plenty of practical arguments for it, too. Easter weekend already generates around $15 billion for our economy. Making it a three-day weekend could boost that by an estimated 10 to 15 percent, adding up to $2 billion in economic activity while strengthening American families.”
But the idea of yet another paid holiday for federal workers, postal workers and bank employees may face opposition in an era of cutting government waste and inefficiency. In a report by Forbes, it is estmated that another paid holiday would cost U.S. taxpayers about $818 million every year.
There currently are 11 public federal holidays, which means the federal public sector is closed, along with many private-sector businesses. The most recently added public holiday is Juneteenth, which recognizes the abolition of slavery in the United States. It was signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2021. Christmas Day is the only traditionally religious holiday on the list.
“The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in the history of the world,” House sponsor Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., tweeted. “Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld.”
Senate Bill 1426 was introduced by Schmitt on Thursday and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
–Alan Goforth
