Credit: Office of Congressman Fitzpatrick
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has introduced legislation to make St. Patrick’s Day a federal holiday.
The Republican congressman from Middletown Township shared a picture on Twitter of him signing the legislation. The legislation was introduced on Friday, which was St. Patrick’s Day.
The congressman’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment on the legislation, but they posted a quote from Fitzpatrick on their website.
“St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the rich history and fighting spirit of the Irish people – including nearly 2 million in Pennsylvania – and the countless contributions that generations of Irish Americans have made to our nation,” said Fitzpatrick. “As a descendant of Irish immigrants and a friend of Ireland, I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to properly recognize St. Patrick’s Day as a federal holiday.”
Fitzpatrick’s office didn’t say whether the bill would propose giving federal employees a paid holiday for St. Patrick’s Day.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said federal holidays give most government employees a paid day off to observe the holiday.
Ashley Ehasz, the Democrat who ran against Fitzpatrick last fall, wasn’t impressed with the legislation.
“How about making Election Day a federal holiday while you’re at it, so that no one has to choose between a paycheck and their constitutional rights,” she tweeted.
“Oh yeah: You already voted against that last year. Funny how you used your vote to crush those of others,” she added.
Fitzpatrick’s tweet announcing the legislation drew some praise, but many people criticized him for wanting to make St. Patrick’s Day a federal holiday. Some called for him to support making election day a federal holiday instead.
Fitzpatrick was part of the St. Patrick’s Day Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol with members of Congress, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, President Joe Biden, and Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minster) Leo Varadkar.
