Hoyer Remarks at American Federation of Government Employees' Legislative Conference
WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) spoke at the American Federation of Government Employees' annual legislative conference. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery.
"Thank you, President Cox. And thank you all for your service to our country in the federal workforce.
"We meet at a moment of great danger and uncertainty for the federal government and all who serve in its ranks. The new Administration has launched an all-out assault on federal civil servants and their families.
"On the first work day of his Administration, President Trump signed an executive order imposing a blanket hiring freeze across the federal government.
"No new prosecutors at the SEC to go after criminals on Wall Street. No new inspectors to keep our food safe at the USDA. No new cybersecurity analysts across government to protect Americans' private data from hackers. No new researchers to develop cures at NIH. Or the CDC. The list of how this freeze will impact our country goes on and on.
"Americans deserve the best, most effective, and most responsive government possible, and we can't deliver if we make it harder to recruit and retain the most talented, intelligent, and hard-working people to serve.
"This new freeze fails to take into account the $159 billion in painful contributions that federal employees have already made to deficit reduction.
"I'm proud to represent 62,000 outstanding federal employees in Maryland's Fifth District. But I'm not here just for them.
"I'm here today – and I've been standing with AFGE my entire career – because I understand how important each and every one of you is to the success of our country and our noble experiment in representative democracy. America cannot work without you.
"Instead of vilifying you and your families, as they have done for years, Republicans in Congress and in the White House ought to be thanking you for your hard work. They ought to ensure that you receive pay raises at parity with those serving in the military.
"As your first January 2017 paycheck should have reflected, House and Senate Democrats were successful at securing for federal civilian employees the same average raise – 2.1% -- that Congress granted to members of the military. Had we not been successful, the 2017 civilian raise would have been only 1.6%.
"And Republicans ought to take steps with us to ensure that our country can recruit and retain top talent to carry on the work of the American people in the years ahead.
"So in the critical weeks and months ahead, I'm going to be working closely with J. David and Tom and the entire AFGE advocacy team to fight the Trump Administration's hiring freeze and any other attacks on federal employees they launch.
"Together, we're going to stand up for collective bargaining rights. We're going to defend due process and the merit systems protection board. We're going to protect the use of official time for union business, as we have in the past. And we're going to reject changes to pensions and benefits that you've earned over the course of your careers in service.
"But I will be frank with you. The fight to protect your rights, your benefits, and your pay will not be easy. Indeed, I expect the fight ahead will be one of the most difficult in which I will have engaged over the course of my career.
"You can be confident that those of us who have been your champions in the House and Senate will continue to work together to protect your interests. But AFGE – and every federal employee organization – needs to step up its game as well. You need to tell your colleagues in your agencies to get engaged. To sign up. To pay up. And to speak up.
"And you must do more to reach out to House and Senate Republicans to get your message across, not just dependable Democrats. They may not agree with you, they may still oppose you, but they need to be reminded that they represent federal employees in larger numbers than they probably realize.
"So I'm proud to stand with you today, as I do every day. Together, let's keep up the fight for our federal workforce and the extraordinary men and women who comprise it. Thank you."