Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2013

Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-04) released the statement below following passage of H.R. 273, to eliminate the statutory pay adjustment for federal employees. The legislation would eliminate the 0.5 percent cost-of-living increase rendered through Executive Order and would instead extend the current federal pay-freeze for an additional nine months.  Federal employees have already contributed $103 billion to deficit reduction. This includes $88 billion over a two and a half year pay freeze and another $15 billion in increased contributions to retirement for new employees. The bill passed the House by a vote of 261-154.

“House Republicans have demonized our federal employees long enough. To continue asking more from our public servants while not asking the wealthiest of Americans, or oil and gas companies that posted record profits in the last three years to contribute their fare share, is unacceptable. What’s more, these demands undermine significantly our government’s ability to recruit and retain talented and highly skilled workers.

“Continuing this pay freeze will have a lasting and devastating economic impact for millions of federal workers. If we are to truly restore economic security to our nation’s middle class, it’s time we stop punishing our civil servants and asking them to bear solely the burden of balancing our budgets. We must work on real solutions to avert sequestration, and start respecting those who work tirelessly for our constituents every day.”

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