Elimination of 2013 Pay Adjustment

Floor Speech

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Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 273, a bill that would extend the pay freeze on federal employees' salaries for the third consecutive year. By bringing H.R. 273 to the floor for a vote, House Republicans have once again singled out federal employees and their families as they look to place the burden of reducing the deficit squarely on the backs of middle class families.

Like their private-sector counterparts, federal employees are subject to the same economic trends as any other worker in America. Federal employees have families just as their counterparts in the private sector, and have the same responsibilities to provide for them. With federal employees currently under a pay freeze for the past two years, it would be unfair to ask for continued sacrifice from only this select group of middle-income workers.

Federal employees have already contributed $103 billion toward reducing our deficit through a series of pay freezes and reductions in benefits. The critical role of federal employees is often overlooked, and demanding further cuts to pay and benefits will diminish our ability to deliver on this government's promise to protect the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I am not opposed to reining in wasteful government spending. However, I am opposed to continually placing an undue burden on federal workers to make up for wasteful spending in other areas of the federal budget. If we are serious about addressing our budget deficits, this Congress should focus more on passing a comprehensive budget that reflects shared sacrifices by all Americans.

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