; and (2) includes an employee of a contractor that has a contract with a Government agency that had a lapse in appropriations as a result of a shutdown. (ee) Shutdown The term shutdown means any period in which there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for any Government agency or Federal department as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution that results in a delay or loss of payment or wages to a Federal worker. (ff) Small business concern The term small business concern has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 632 ). . 3. Limitation on furnishing an adverse item of information resulting from the shutdown Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s–2 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f) Limitation on furnishing adverse information resulting from a shutdown A person shall not furnish any adverse item of information relating to a consumer during a covered period to any consumer reporting agency if the person has been notified by the consumer that— (1) the ability of the consumer to make an on-time payment during the covered period has been materially affected by a shutdown; or (2) the late or missed payment by the consumer during the covered period was a result of a shutdown. . 4. Prohibition on including an adverse item of information in consumer reports Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (9) An adverse item of information reported to the consumer reporting agency relating to a consumer during a covered period if— (A) the consumer is a Federal worker listed in the database described in section 611(h)(2)