Steve Lynch: “While I strongly support some of the programs supported by this funding bill, it contains a number proposals that I…”

“While I strongly support some of the programs supported by this funding bill, it contains a number proposals that I believe are detrimental. Firstly, H.R. 5854 includes language that will amount to an unwarranted extension of the pay freeze that's currently in effect for Federal employees. Specifically, sections 129, 231, and 232 would freeze the pay for Federal civilian employees across the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs through FY 2013 even though these employees, like all Federal employees governmentwide, have already sacrificed their fair share when it comes to reducing the Federal budget deficit. In this Congress alone, Federal employees have given up over $75 billion towards deficit reduction efforts and to offset the costs of unemployment benefits for millions of other workers. Let us remember that our Federal employees are in the second year of a 2-year Federal pay freeze that will save the Federal Government $5 billion by the end of fiscal year 2012 and an estimated $60 billion over the next 10 years. For the average middle-income Federal employee, this will amount to a loss of approximately $47,000 in income over a 20-year period that could go toward a child's education or a family's retirement security.…”