[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A GOOD WEEK FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, this week, two important pieces of 
legislation that will help Federal employees advanced in the House of 
Representatives. House Resolution 581, which expresses Congress's 
support for parity between military and civilian Federal employee pay 
raises, passed the House 2 days ago with strong bipartisan support. 
Yesterday, H.R. 3751, which requires the Administration to present 
options for expanding the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) 
to include greater access to dental, vision and hearing benefits, 
received a unanimous vote in the Government Reform Committee.
  Congressional efforts to correct pay disparities have been frustrated 
by the budgetary priorities of the Bush Administration, which has for 
years shown that pay parity is not a priority. Indeed, the 
administration's 2005 budget includes a 3.5 percent pay increase for 
military personnel, but only a 1.5 percent increase for civilian 
employees. The strong bipartisan support for pay parity in the House, 
even in the face of presidential opposition, illustrates the commitment 
many members of Congress feel for ensuring that we acknowledge the 
service and sacrifice made by both military and civilian personnel.

  This week's Government Reform Committee vote in support of H.R. 3751 
is also an important step forward for federal employees. Dental and 
vision problems can often be as disruptive to the lives of federal 
employees and their families as other health concerns. Yet vision and 
dental needs are not covered by many federal benefit plans. Serious, 
developing dental and vision problems are not often obvious to the 
casual observer and can sometimes only be detected by a physician. 
Despite its potential impact on general health, dental and vision 
insurance, in most cases, must currently be assumed by the federal 
employee alone at great personal expense. H.R. 3751 requires the Office 
of Personnel Management to explore ways to make affordable vision, 
hearing and dental care available to all federal employees.
  Federal employee jobs, services and benefits have been the subject of 
much congressional activity lately. At every turn, the Bush 
Administration has fought efforts to protect the rights of federal 
employees and opposed the principle of pay parity in annual 
compensation. Fortunately, thanks to the success of these two bills, 
there is good news for federal employees this week.




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