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Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), joined by 31 cosponsors, today introduced legislation in the House to provide a 3.8 percent pay raise to federal workers.  H.R. 304, The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act would provide the pay hike to all federal employees in 2016.

Original cosponsors of the bill are: Congressmen Steny Hoyer (D-MD); 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).

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

The FAIR Act is a first step in reassuring our nation’s commitment to public service, while addressing the alarming rate of attrition among federal employees.  According to an analysis of OPM data by the Partnership for Public Service, attrition in fiscal 2013 has increased 34 percent since fiscal 2009, a loss of 585,000 full-time employees in five years, or more than a quarter of the federal workforce.  Over the last five years, federal wages have lagged far behind the private sector and have failed to keep up with the rate of inflation.

“No other group in our country has been demonized, demoralized and asked to sacrifice more than our federal workforce. They have been disparaged and belittled.” Congressman Connolly said. “This bill is a down payment ontrying to help restore some of the losses that have been incurred by federal employees. They 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.

“I’m proud to cosponsor the FAIR Act, which would provide a 3.8% pay raise to help our 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 sacrificed far more than their fair share,” Congressman Cummings said.  “Between pay freezes and benefit cuts and the harmful effects of sequestration, federal employees have contributed nearly $140 billion toward deficit reduction.  A 3.8% increase in pay in 2016 would be a modest first step to stem attrition in the federal workforce and help attract and retain the best and brightest to federal service.”

“Every American deserves fair pay for their work, including federal workers who provide so many essential services to our nation,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “Federal wages have long been stagnant and have fallen far behind the private sector, so it’s about time that career civil servants – like those in my district working to combat diseases like Ebola at NIH and treating our veterans at Walter Reed – are fairly compensated.”

“Our federal workforce dutifully serves the American people and keeps our country running. After sacrificing nearly $140 billion in benefits and frozen wages for deficit reduction and enduring a 16-day government shutdown, federal workers deserve fair pay that reflects both the rising cost of living and the vital work they do on behalf of our nation,” said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. “The FAIR Act is commonsense legislation that recognizes that the border patrol agents who secure our borders, the nurses and doctors at the VA who care for our wounded warriors, the law enforcement personnel who combat terrorism, and other critical federal employees must not continue to bear the burden of budgetary battles.”

“Four years of Tea Party control translated to sequestration-related furloughs, a government shutdown, cuts to retirement benefits, and only a slight pay bump last year for federal employees, despite three years of frozen wages” said Rep. Beyer. “With 40 percent of our civil workforce eligible to retire in the next decade, and morale and workplace satisfaction at all-time lows, it’s long past time for our federal civil service to receive fair compensation for their vital contributions to millions of American families.”

The FAIR Act has also gained the support of many federal employee groups:

In a letter to Connolly, Alan Lopatin, chairman of the Federal-Postal Coalition, comprised of 31 national organizations that collectively represent 5 million federal workers, postal workers, and retirees, said, “The Federal-Postal Coalition welcomes introduction of your legislation that would extend a meaningful 3.8 percent pay raise to federal employees for calendar year 2016.  Our groups strongly support this bill and commit to seek its enactment in this new Congress.”

Colleen M. Kelley, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), said, “Faced with shrinking resources and meager pay increases—if at all—federal agencies and employees are finding it harder to accomplish their missions. NTEU applauds Representative Connolly for recognizing this fact and for understanding that fair pay is critical to helping federal agencies hire and retain talented employees amidst a rebounding economy. NTEU wholeheartedly supports this legislation, and will work to obtain Congress’ support for the measure.”   

J. David Cox Sr., National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said, “Federal employees have seen their standard of living deteriorate in recent years due to a three-year pay freeze, unpaid furloughs, and higher retirement contributions for newer workers,” . “A 3.8 percent pay raise would help federal employees recoup some of that lost income and ensure the government is able to recruit and retain the high caliber workers that taxpayers expect.”

Richard G. Thissen, President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), said, “A 3.8 percent pay increase for federal employees would help close the growing gap between federal and private-sector pay – now at 35 percent, according to the Federal Salary Council, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Providing our public servants adequate compensation is about more than just fairness, it is about maintaining an efficient and effective federal government. I thank Congressman Connolly for his leadership in supporting our nation’s federal employees. I urge Congress to take swift action on this legislation.” 

“Enough is enough. It is time for Congress to provide the dedicated men and women of our federal workforce with fair compensation.  It is a statement by Congress to federal workers that we do value who you are and what you do.  These cuts have had an undeniable impact on morale, and morale impacts productivity,” Connolly said.

FAIR Act legislation

National Federation of Federal Employees Letter of Support