Steve Lynch: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this so-called ``Federal worker pay…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this so-called ``Federal worker pay freeze.'' As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, we have witnessed a deliberate effort over the past 2 years of the Republican majority to undertake a series of legislative attacks on our middle-income Federal workers, and this bill is no different. Despite the title of this legislation, this bill would extend the current statutory pay freeze for all Federal civilian employees--the vast majority of whom are middle class earners--through 2013. In place of a balanced approach to deficit reduction based on a genuine commitment to shared sacrifice, this bill again seeks to target Federal employees who are already in their second year of a 2\1/2\-year pay freeze. Collectively, because of the pay freeze that's been in effect for the last couple of years, these same Federal workers have already contributed over $100 billion towards deficit reduction and continued unemployment benefits for other workers. I'd like to note that I am not opposed to a pay freeze for Members of Congress. I think we should lead by example. In fact, I have voted for pay freezes for congressional pay on six different occasions.…”