Cartwright Language Passes Congress, Signed into Law for 2nd Year; Will Provide Pay Raise to Nearly 2,000 Blue-Collar Federal Workers at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Nearly Quarter Million People Nationally

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright released the following statement after his bill, HR 3573, Wage Grade Employee Parity Act, was included in the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, FY 2015:

"I am thrilled that the language from the Wage Grade Employee Parity Act, which I introduced in November, 2013, has passed the House and Senate yet again. The legislation provides nearly 2,000 Wage Grade (WG), or hourly, employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot and nearly a quarter million blue-collar federal workers across the country a 1% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) again this year.

"Additionally, the hourly workers at both the Social Security Dock and Veterans Hospital in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County can expect this cost of living adjustment.

"There is an important lesson here: oftentimes, the way to get bills passed into law is by working with other Members of Congress to build a package we can all agree on. Working together with other Members, on both sides of the aisle, is what my constituents sent me to Washington to do. I'm proud that my bill was bipartisan when it was introduced and has now passed twice in strongly bipartisan votes.

"I'd like to thank the Committee on Appropriations for again including my legislation and recognizing the important contributions of our blue-collar federal workers."

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