[House Document 113-152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



113th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 113-152

 
             AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR LOCALITY PAY INCREASES

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR LOCALITY PAY INCREASES PAYABLE TO CIVILIAN 
  FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) AND CERTAIN 
      OTHER PAY SYSTEMS FOR 2015, PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 5305(a)(3)




    September 8, 2014.--Referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
              Government Reform and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, August 29, 2014.
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 (GS) and certain other pay systems in January 
2015.
    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 three-year pay freeze that ended in 
January 2014 with the implementation of a 1.0 percent pay 
increase--an amount lower than the private sector pay increases 
and statutory formula for adjustments to the base General 
Schedule. However, as the country's economic recovery 
continues, 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 January 2015 across-the-
board and locality pay adjustments. Specifically, I have 
determined that for 2015, across-the-board pay increases will 
be 1.0 percent, and the current locality pay percentages shown 
in Schedule 9 of Executive Order 13655 of December 23, 2013, 
will remain at their 2014 levels. This decision will not 
materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well-
qualified Federal workforce.
    The adjustments described above shall take effect on the 
first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 
2015.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.

                                  
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