[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 145 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13728-S13729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Sarbanes):
  S. 1250. A bill to amend titles 5 and 37, United States Code, to 
provide for the continuance of pay and the authority to make certain 
expenditures and obligations during lapses in appropriations; to the 
Committee on Appropriations.


            THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PROTECTION ACT

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I introduce an important piece of 
legislation called the Federal Employee Compensation Protection Act.
  With a budget stalemate looming ahead, I think it is crucial that we 
keep our faith with Federal employees. The Mikulski-Sarbanes 
legislation will keep that faith by protecting Federal employee pay and 
benefits during a Government shutdown. Our legislation will ensure that 
Federal employees in Maryland and across the Nation will be able to 
make their mortgage payments, put food on the table, and provide for 
their families.
  A shutdown of the Federal Government, no matter how short, would 
disrupt the lives of thousands of Federal employees and their families. 
In my State of Maryland alone, there are more than 280,000 Federal 
employees. They are some of the most dedicated and hard-working people 
in America today. These employees have devoted their careers and lives 
to public service, and they should not be used as pawns in a game of 
political brinkmanship.
  Federal employees have already endured their fair share of hardship 
this year. Downsizing, diet COLA's, attacks on pensions and health 
benefits, and now the threat of unpaid furloughs have damaged morale at 
nearly every Federal agency. This assault must stop Mr. President. We 
cannot continue to denigrate and downgrade Federal employees and at the 
same time expect Government to work better.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Mikulski-Sarbanes legislation and 
work to prevent this train wreck from happening. We have a contract 
with our Federal employees, and we should encourage their dedication by 
ensuring that the contract is honored and their pay and benefits are 
not put in jeopardy.
 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague 
from Maryland, Senator Mikulski, in cosponsoring this important 
legislation to ensure the protection of Federal employee pay and 
benefits in the event of a furlough.
  We have a responsibility to the men and women who have dedicated 
themselves to public service and I would hope that my colleagues would 
join Senator Mikulski and I in our ongoing effort to maintain the 
Federal Government's commitment to its dedicated work force.
  Over the past several months, Federal employees have been subject to 
numerous attacks on their pay and earned benefits. Despite my 
opposition, Congress approved the Republican budget resolution which 
seeks to change the calculation of retirement benefits for Federal 
employees from the employee's highest 3-year average to the highest 5-
year average. The resolution also contains a reduction in the Federal 
Government's contribution to employee health care benefits and an 
increase from 7 to 7.5 percent in Federal employee contribution rates 
over the next 7 years.
  In my view, this is a breach of the contract with Federal employees. 
In an attempt to restore fairness for Federal workers, I offered, along 
with Senator Mikulski and several of my colleagues, an amendment to the 
Republican budget resolution which would have stricken the high three/
high five provision. Unfortunately, the provision failed by the 
narrowest of margins.
   Mr. President, Federal employees have made a choice to serve their 
country and we should respect and reward that choice by supporting 
these hardworking, dedicated individuals. 

[[Page S 13729]]
Through the legislation Senator Mikulski and I are introducing today, 
we have the opportunity to send a message to the Federal work force and 
to all American citizens that Congress honors and values the commitment 
those who work for the Government have made.
  As I have stated many times before, Federal employees have already 
made significant sacrifices in past years in the form of downsizing 
efforts, delayed and reduced cost of living adjustments, and other 
reductions in Federal employee pay and benefits. They have been called 
on to sacrifice further in this Congress through the Republican budget 
resolution and are now facing the very real possibility that, through 
no fault of their own, they may have to either work without pay or be 
prohibited from coming to work at all.
  In a consistent and committed way, Federal workers give dedicated 
service to our country and they deserve to have their pay and earned 
benefits protected. Like Cal Ripken, who was recently honored in 
Baltimore, Federal employees show up day in and day out and do their 
jobs. In my view, we should recognize and encourage such dedication by 
ensuring that the pay and benefits of Federal workers are not placed in 
jeopardy.
                                 ______