[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 18 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TO EXTEND THE PAY LIMITATION FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND FEDERAL 
                               EMPLOYEES

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                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3835, a 
bill to extend the pay limitation for Members of Congress and Federal 
employees. There is an attack on the idea that government has a role in 
the proper functioning of society. That battle has resulted in the 
privatization of government services, which leads to inefficiencies and 
higher bills for taxpayers. Across the country we are also seeing an 
attack on government workers who frequently work long hours in support 
of our great nation.
  Federal employees have already sacrificed because of our shrinking 
budget. These men and women are members of the middle class, and they 
are already subject to an unwarranted two-year pay freeze in the form 
of a $5 billion cut to their wages and benefits by the end of 2012. 
They also face the possibility of layoffs and furloughs in coming years 
as automatic spending reductions mandated by the Budget Control Act of 
2011 reduce agency budgets for salaries.
  Federal employees are public servants who do work that is essential 
to this country every day: they guard our borders, care for our wounded 
veterans, deliver our mail, ensure the safety of our food supply, and 
provide many other sometimes invisible, but important services.
  This bill inappropriately groups the pay and benefits of Members of 
Congress with the men and women of our federal civil service. In so 
doing, it attempts to turn Federal employee pay into a political issue. 
I am not opposed to extending the pay freeze for Members of Congress. 
However, I stand with the workers. The merits of pay increases for 
Federal employees should be debated separately from our consideration 
of pay for Members of Congress.
  I stand with the workers; that is why I voted against this bill.

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