Dems Sponsor 3.8% Raise for Federal Workers

Congressman Gerry Connolly introduces FAIR Act

Posted for Congressman Steny Hoyer

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) cosponsored this week legislation introduced by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), to provide a 3.8 percent pay raise for federal workers. The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act would provide the pay hike to all federal employees in calendar year 2016.

The FAIR Act takes the initial step to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to public service. The FAIR Act seeks to staunch the alarming high rate of attrition among federal employees.

Mr. Hoyer’s office cites an analysis of OPM data by the Partnership for Public Service showing attrition in fiscal 2013 increased 34 percent since fiscal 2009, a loss of 585,000 full-time employees in five years. This represents more than a quarter of the federal workforce. Across the last five years, federal wages have lagged far behind the private sector and have failed to keep up with the rate of inflation.

“I’m proud to cosponsor the FAIR Act, which would provide a 3.8 percent pay raise for federal employees keep up with cost-of-living increases,” said Congressman Hoyer. “Our federal workers deserved to be fairly compensated for the important work they do on behalf of Americans across the country. They have contributed $138 billion toward deficit reduction as their pay was frozen for three years and as they endured furloughs caused by sequestration and a government shutdown. So many of the public functions we often take for granted are the purview of the hard working men and women who constitute our federal workforce, and they deserve fair pay and benefits. Advancing the FAIR Act will help the government recruit and retain the top-quality workforce the American people need and deserve.”

Federal employees “have endured a three-year wage freeze, four years without locality pay, higher retirement contributions for certain employees, wage-reducing work furloughs, cuts from sequestration, and a government shutdown,” Congressman Connolly said.

“Federal employees have sacrificed far more than their fair share,” Congressman Elijah Cummings said.  “Between pay freezes and benefit cuts and the harmful effects of sequestration, federal employees have contributed nearly $140 billion toward deficit reduction.”

The FAIR Act has also gained the support of the Federal-Postal Coalition, comprised of 31 national organization that collectively represent 5 million federal workers; the merican Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE); and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

A companion bill, sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), was introduced in the Senate.

Additional cosponsors of the House bill are: Elijah Cummings (D-MD); James Clyburn (D-SC); Jose Serrano (D-NY); Chris Van Hollen (D-MD); Don Beyer (D-VA); Stephen Lynch (D-MA); Matt Cartwright (D-PA); Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU); Raul Grijalva (D-AZ); Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX); Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM); Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Eleanor Homes Norton (D-DC); Beto O’Rourke (D-TX); Mark Pocan (D-WI); Juan Vargas (D-CA); Alcee Hastings (D-FL); Bennie Thompson (D-MS); Alan Grayson (D-FL); Mark Takano (D-CA); John Delaney (D-MD); John Sarbanes (D-MD); C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD); Donna Edwards (D-MD); John Conyers (D-MI); Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX); Corrine Brown (D-FL); Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and Robert Scott (D-VA).