[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    STOP TARGETING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I voted on Thursday, April 10, in favor of 
H. Con. Res. 96, authored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, 
because it is my belief that Congress has a responsibility to address 
our nation's fiscal crisis. This proposal is simply a way forward in 
the budgetary process so we can continue the debate about the financial 
challenges our country faces.
  Like last year's proposal, the House budget plan for FY 2015 calls 
for significant reductions in discretionary spending, reduced taxes and 
the full repeal of the President's costly health care reform law. It 
proposes a balanced budget in the next 10 years and recognizes that we 
can no longer ignore the trillions of dollars in mandatory spending on 
entitlement programs that almost completely consume our nation's 
budget.
  This year's plan also asks Members of Congress to again lead by 
example by cutting their own pay, benefits and office budgets in the 
quest to reduce our debt and put this nation on sound financial 
footing.
  Further, the Ryan plan protects our nation's defense and security 
forces. I have repeatedly said that we must get serious about the 
national security threats that exist in this world and what is required 
of our forward presence and response forces.
  Reality is that we live in a 15 aircraft carrier world. The United 
States Navy has 10 right now and the law says we have to have 11. We 
need 11 carriers in our Navy. These are mobile, sea based, warships 
that can sail around the globe to project power and protect our global 
trade and commerce.
  This budget keeps 11 carriers in the fleet, giving the United States 
the flexibility and capabilities that are essential to the rebalance of 
our security posture toward the Asia Pacific, our enduring security 
commitments in the Middle East, and the need to respond to contingency 
operations around the globe.
  Our nation has no greater asset than the folks who have served and 
are currently serving our nation, both military and civilian alike. 
Their dedication and service to our nation is unwavering and it is 
important that Congress provide the best equipment, training, and 
compensation so these men and women can meet their duties in full. The 
Ryan budget plan restores national security spending and helps our 
defense maintain its current strength.
  These are all measures that I have and will continue to support; 
however, it is disappointing that this proposal, just as in past budget 
proposals, unfairly targets only one group of Americans for additional 
sacrifices: the civilian federal workforce. I have serious concerns 
that this resolution again forces federal employees to contribute more 
towards their retirement, which is the equivalent of a pay cut, and 
ends their defined benefit retirement plan for deficit reduction 
purposes.
  America's First District is full of hardworking and dedicated 
citizens who serve the people of this nation every day, such as on the 
front lines of the War on Terror or in support roles for our military. 
Still others provide invaluable services at places such as VA 
hospitals, cancer and Alzheimer's research laboratories, and law 
enforcement agencies such as the FBI and DEA. And yet, federal civilian 
employees continue to see their pay cut and their benefits reduced on 
multiple occasions.
  Federal employees have endured a pay freeze since 2010; furloughs due 
to sequestration; and, most recently, were required to not work because 
of indecision and political gamesmanship that resulted in a government 
shutdown for 16 days. Enough is enough.
  I am fully ready and willing to enact deeper cuts to my own salary, 
benefits and congressional operations, which are provisions included in 
this year's Ryan budget, but we must stop singling out federal 
employees simply because Congress continually fails to address the out-
of-control spending.
  There is no question that our nation must get its spending in order, 
and federal employees are certainly willing to do their part to help in 
this effort. Their daily contributions to their fellow citizens and to 
the cause of freedom are simply innumerable, and yet during deficit 
reduction debate over the last few years, federal employees have been 
asked to contribute much more than their fair share. Our federal 
civilian employees live a life of selfless service, and they deserve 
our appreciation.
  Mr. Speaker, I voted in support of the Ryan budget because it is 
Congress' constitutional duty to budget and appropriate. This budget 
proposal is a means for Congress to further discuss our country's 
fiscal challenges, but I am hopeful that deficit reduction efforts 
going forward will focus more realistically on addressing the true 
drivers of our debt, rather than targeting those who are trying simply 
to serve their nation every day.

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