[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 581 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                        March 31, 2004.
Whereas civilian employees and members of the uniformed services of the United 
        States provide critical services and protection for our citizens and 
        taxpayers, and make many other significant contributions to the general 
        welfare of the Nation;
Whereas the ability of the Federal Government to provide a competitive salary 
        plays a critical role in its ability to recruit and retain individuals 
        possessing the skills necessary to provide government services 
        effectively and efficiently to the American people;
Whereas the current pay system hampers the ability of the Federal Government to 
        achieve the goals referred to in the preceding clause;
Whereas the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, commonly referred 
        to as ``FEPCA'', sought to achieve comparability between Federal and 
        non-Federal pay rates through annual pay adjustments based on changes in 
        private-sector wages and salaries;
Whereas increases in the pay of members of the uniformed services and of 
        civilian employees of the United States have not kept pace with 
        increases in the overall pay levels of workers in the private sector, so 
        that there currently exists an estimated 32 percent gap between 
        compensation levels of Federal civilian employees and those of private 
        sector workers, and an estimated 5.7 percent gap between compensation 
        levels of members of the uniformed services and those of private sector 
        workers; and
Whereas, in almost every year during the past two decades, there have been equal 
        adjustments in the compensation of members of the uniformed services and 
        the compensation of civilian employees of the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) compensation for civilian employees and members of the uniformed 
        services of the United States must be sufficient to support our critical 
        efforts to recruit, retain, and reward quality people in Government 
        service; and
            (2) to help achieve this objective, in fiscal year 2005, 
        compensation for civilian employees of the United States should be 
        adjusted at the same time, and in the same proportion, as are rates of 
        compensation for members of the uniformed services.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.