On the recordJanuary 30, 2019
I thank my good friend, the new chairman of our committee, for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman, this tiny--I will call it modest--2.6 percent pay raise authorized by H.R. 790 does not begin to make up for the long overdue pay raise our Federal workers are due. It does not begin to make up for the puny raises--sometimes as low as 1 percent, sometimes no raise at all--that our Federal workers have had to bear, and it certainly does not make up for 35 days of no pay for the longest shutdown in American history. It is particularly unconscionable to follow the Trump shutdown with a Trump pay freeze. Every Member in this House represents Federal workers. Every Member should be on the floor speaking for them. For years, Congress recognized pay increase equity between civilian and military personnel. But perhaps with the disparagement of Federal workers by Republicans and Republican Presidents, and perhaps to save money, we no longer even try to bring together these two parts of our workforce. It is hard to justify bifurcation of the civilian from the military workforce today. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
