Federal Employees

As a member of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Postal Service on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee he is a passionate advocate for federal workers.

In 2009, Congressman Connolly helped pass legislation to give FERS employees retirement credit for unused sick leave, allow FERS employees returning to government to redeposit their TSP savings, and allow CSRS employees to work part time at the end of their careers without reducing pension payments.  He helped lead the effort to pass the Telework Improvements Act, which is improving Telework participation in federal agencies across the federal government.  Congressman Connolly also supported legislation to provide paid parental leave for federal employees, to reduce the prices of prescription drugs under FEHBP, and to make Federal Employee Group Life Insurance more transparent.

During this session of Congress, the Republican leadership has proposed a range of attacks on federal employees.  They have proposed a five year freeze on federal employee pay, including step increases, and layoffs for 10% of the federal workforce. The Republican budget proposal would allow their budget chairman to slash FEHBP funding unilaterally.  Congressman Connolly strongly opposes these ideologically-driven attacks on federal employees, and believe we should return to an era where the civil service had broad, bipartisan support from the elected officials who represent them.