Hoyer Defends Federal Civilian Cost-of-Living Adjustment

Statement

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) engaged in a colloquy with Majority Leader Eric Cantor on the House Floor today. Whip Hoyer discussed how federal employees are the only working Americans who have contributed to deficit reduction and Republicans' proposal to freeze federal employees' salaries for the third year in a row. See below for an excerpt of his remarks and a link to the video:

"I think it's unfortunate that now for two and a half years the only working people - the only working people - in America who have received a freeze or decrease or have contributed to solving the debt crisis which confronts us, with which the Gentleman and I agree, are federal workers. I'm not talking about Members of Congress. I'm not talking about the President or the Vice President. The President doesn't get a COLA adjustment, obviously. But it's a cost of living adjustment, and I will say to my friend that I have worked over the last 20 years with his counterparts, either in the majority or minority to ensure we made the distinction so people understood and didn't demagogue that issue. I regret that we are doing so here again."

Source