Hoyer Provides Congressional Update to Federal Employees at the FDA

COLLEGE PARK, MD – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) provided a Congressional update to members of the National Treasury Employees Union at the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition and discussed how he is fighting efforts that unfairly target federal employees.

"Those who have chosen careers in federal service have been asked over and over again to contribute to deficit reduction while others have not," stated Congressman Hoyer.  "Already federal employees have agreed to pay freezes and pension changes that have brought $75 billion in deficit savings, and House Republicans have insisted on additional contributions from federal employees but refuse to ask the wealthiest in this country to contribute as well. It is simply unfair to continue singling out these middle-class workers at a time when they have been working harder than ever."

"I'm also concerned about the impact of the budget sequestration looming in the months ahead, and I believe the only way to avoid it is by replacing it with a big and balanced solution," continued Congressman Hoyer. "That is something I will continue to pursue in Congress this year, because the FDA must continue to follow the highest standards of scientific and medical integrity when carrying out its mission. I commend the agency and its employees for the excellent job they are doing to ensure the drugs our doctors prescribe are safe and can help save and improve lives and I thank them for joining me today for this discussion."

Congressman Hoyer has consistently opposed efforts that unfairly target federal employees.  In addition to the $75 billion in deficit savings that federal employees have already contributed, Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's House budget this year called for a further 5% increase in pension contributions along with an additional three years of frozen pay. The Republican budget also imposed a hiring freeze that would cut the workforce by 10% over three years.