[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1639-S1640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
   THERE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PARITY BETWEEN THE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE 
 COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES AND THE ADJUSTMENTS 
     IN THE COMPENSATION OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. SARBANES (for himself, Mr. Warner, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bingaman, 
Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Akaka) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Governmental 
Affairs.

                            S. Con. Res. 17

       Whereas members of the uniformed services of the United 
     States and civilian employees of the United States make 
     significant contributions to the general welfare of the 
     United States;
       Whereas increases in the levels of pay of members of the 
     uniformed services and of civilian employees of the United 
     States have not kept pace with increases in the overall 
     levels of pay of workers in the private sector;
       Whereas there is a 32 percent gap between the compensation 
     levels of Federal civilian employees and the compensation 
     levels of

[[Page S1640]]

     private sector workers, and an estimated 10 percent gap 
     between the compensation levels of members of the uniformed 
     services and the compensation levels of private sector 
     workers; and
       Whereas in almost every year of the past 2 decades, members 
     of the uniformed services and civilian employees of the 
     United States have received equal adjustments in 
     compensation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that there 
     should continue to be parity between the adjustments in the 
     compensation of members of the uniformed services and the 
     adjustments in the compensation of civilian employees of the 
     United States.

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I am pleased to join with Senators 
Warner, Mikulski, Bingaman, and Kennedy in introducing a resolution 
which would express the sense of the Congress that parity between 
Federal civilian pay and military pay should be maintained. A 
comparison of military and civilian pay increases by the Congressional 
Research Service finds that in 17 of these last 20 years military and 
civilian pay increases have been identical. Disparate treatment of 
civilian and military pay goes against longstanding policy of parity 
for all those who have chosen to serve our Nation--whether that service 
be in the civilian workforce or in the armed services.
  In the 106th Congress, an overwhelming majority of the United States 
Senate agreed, and approved a bipartisan pay parity amendment on 
February 24, 1999 by a vote of 94 to 6 during consideration of S. 4, 
the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's, and Marines Bill of Rights Act. In 
many instances, Federal civilian and military employees work side-by-
side doing the important work of the Nation, and the Senate has 
recognized that we should not undermine the morale of these very 
dedicated public servants by failing to bring them in line with 
military personnel.
  The rationales for an increase in military and civilian pay are the 
same. Both the armed services and the Federal civilian workforce need 
to address critical retention and recruitment problems. This year, the 
General Accounting Office, GAO, has added ``human capital'' as one of 
the areas of high risk for the Federal government. A wave of potential 
retirements threaten institutional experience and knowledge at every 
level. An estimated 53 percent of the Federal workforce will be 
eligible to retire by 2004. By that same time, approximately 60 percent 
of the Senior Executive Service, our top civilian managers, will be 
eligible for retirement.
  These vacancies will occur in an era in which those entering the 
workforce are less likely to join public service. As the GAO has noted, 
the ``Federal government has often acted as if its people were costs to 
be cut rather than assets to be valued.'' Congress has continually 
asked Federal employees to make significant sacrifices for the sake of 
our Nation's fiscal health. FEPCA, legislation passed in 1990 to bring 
the pay of Federal employees in line with that offered in the private 
sector, has never been fully implemented. Between 1993 and 1999, the 
executive branch has cut 17 percent of its workforce, totaling 377,000 
full time positions. In 1996, Federal employees were forced to make 
higher contributions to their retirement plans in order to help pay 
down the national debt. But through it all, Federal employees have 
continued to provide high quality service to the American public, 
usually with fewer resources and personnel.
  One way to ensure the Federal government is able to attract and 
retain qualified public servants is to ensure parity between civil 
service employees and members of the armed forces. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in support of this important resolution.

                          ____________________