On the recordFebruary 1, 2012
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Federal employees have already seen a 2-year freeze, which saved $60 billion, and Federal employees are willing to do their share. What we should not do is single them out. Now, the President has asked for a one-half percent cost-of-living adjustment. That still is short of the 1.7 percent cost-of-living that they will face. So it's time that we stop saying to those folks who are out there every day helping keep our food safe, helping track down Osama bin Laden, other people who help protect our borders, and do other things that we're going to single them out for unfair treatment as part of the budget. Let's take it up as part of the full budget and not single them out the way we're doing here. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 1, 2012. Hon. Eric I. Cantor, Majority Leader, House of Representatives. Representative Cantor: We are writing to request that the bill, H.R. 3858 to extend the pay freeze on Members of Congress, be placed on the suspension calendar. Federal employees have seen no cost-of-living adjustment for two years and will lose $60 billion in income over 10 years. We believe that members should have the opportunity to vote to freeze the pay of members of Congress without cutting pay for all Federal employees. Sincerely, Chris Van Hollen, Member of Congress. Nancy Pelosi, Member of Congress. Steny H. Hoyer, Member of Congress.
