[House Document 112-137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



112th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-137


 
             AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR LOCALITY PAY INCREASES

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

   AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR LOCALITY PAY INCREASE PAYABLE TO CIVILIAN 
  FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) AND CERTAIN 
      OTHER PAY SYSTEMS FOR 2013, PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 5305(a)(3)




    September 10, 2012.--Referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
              Government Reform and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, August 21, 2012.
Hon. John Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: I am transmitting an alternative plan for 
pay increases for civilian Federal employees covered by the 
General Schedule and certain other pay systems for 2013.
    Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me to implement 
alternative pay plans for pay increases for civilian Federal 
employees covered by the General Schedule and certain other pay 
systems if, because of ``national emergency or serious economic 
conditions affecting the general welfare,'' I view the 
adjustments that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate.
    Civilian Federal employees have already made significant 
sacrifices as a result of a two-year pay freeze. As our country 
continues to recover from serious economic conditions affecting 
the general welfare, however, we must maintain efforts to keep 
our Nation on a sustainable fiscal course. This is an effort 
that continues to require tough choices and each of us to do 
our fair share.
    Accordingly, I have determined that it is appropriate to 
exercise my statutory alternative plan authority under 5 U.S.C. 
5303(b) and 5304a to set alternative 2013 across-the-board and 
locality pay adjustments. Specifically, I have determined that 
for 2013, across-the-board pay increases will be 0.5 percent, 
and the current locality pay percentages shown in Schedule 9 of 
Executive Order 13594 of December 19, 2011, will remain at 
their 2012 levels. This decision will not materially affect the 
Federal Government's ability to attract and retain a well-
qualified Federal workforce.
    Finally, with respect to the anticipated continuing 
resolution, Congress should maintain current pay rates during 
the period of the continuing resolution. Assuming such a 
continuing resolution is enacted, the adjustments described 
above would take effect after the continuing resolution 
expires.
    Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.

                                  
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