Hoyer Applauds Budget Committee for Supporting Federal Employee Pay Parity

WASHINGTON, DC -Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) applauded the House Budget Committee for including a strong statement of support for federal employee pay parity in the Democratic House budget proposal unveiled today. The Committee will vote on a final budget this evening and is expected to approve the pay parity language. The full House will vote on the budget next week.

The language is as follows:

It is the sense of the House that rates of compensation for civilian employees of the United States should be adjusted at the same time, and in the same proportion, as are rates of compensation for members of the uniformed services.

"This language makes unequivocally clear that this Congress is committed to the principle of pay parity for federal employees," stated Rep. Hoyer. "Federal civilian employees work side-by-side with members of the armed services to protect our nation and keep our government operating as one of the best in the world. Pay parity requires that compensation adjustments reflect the equally valuable contributions all federal employees make in service to this nation."

Including the pay parity language in the House budget proposal follows a strategy of establishing a clear and strong position of support for equal adjustments for both federal civilian and military employees. This support for pay parity stands in contrast to the Bush Administration's budget proposal sent to Congress in February, which included varying pay adjustments for military and civilian government workers (3.4 percent and 2.9 percent respectively).

In the next step of  the budget process, the pay adjustment for federal employees will be considered by the House Appropriations  Committee. Rep. Hoyer has said he intends to investigate the adequacy of next year's proposed salary adjustment, consulting with respected members of the House Armed Services Committee, Government Reform Committee, as well as representatives of the military and federal civilian workforce.

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