More than 76,000 federal employees call the 8th Congressional District home, a greater number than most states. They play critical roles in national security, transportation, commerce, food safety, and many other sectors.

Thirty percent of the federal civil service is eligible to retire in the next three years. If we do not improve the treatment of our public servants by stopping government shutdowns, giving them earned pay raises to keep up with inflation, and treating them with greater respect than our nation has in its recent history, we will no longer be able to attract the ablest or the most creative minds to lead our nation forward.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Family Paid Parental Leave Act, which would provide six weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees for the birth or fostering of a child. Earlier this year, I joined Congressman Gerry Connolly and the National Capital Region delegation in introducing the FAIR Act, proposing a 3.8 percent pay raise to federal workers.

I will fight efforts to undermine the civil service and will continue to support and promote solutions and improvements for federal employees.