[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E428-E429]
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

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I voted on Wednesday, March 25, in favor of 
H. Con. Res. 27, authored by Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, 
because it is my belief that Congress has a responsibility to address 
our nation's fiscal crisis.
   This proposal is simply a visionary document and a way forward in 
the budgetary process so we can continue the debate about the financial 
challenges our country faces and return to funding the government 
through regular order.
   Like last year's proposal, the budget plan for FY 2016 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 less than 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 proposal 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.
   This budget gives 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.

[[Page E429]]

   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 
House 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, approximately 
six percent, which is the equivalent of a pay cut, and eliminates their 
defined benefit retirement plan for deficit reduction purposes. It also 
goes farther than previous budget plans by proposing to decrease the 
rate of return on the Thrift Savings Plan's Government Securities Fund 
(G Fund).
   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 
nearly every occasion.
   Federal employees have already endured a three-year pay freeze; 
furloughs due to sequestration; and were required to not work because 
of indecision and political gamesmanship that resulted in a government 
shutdown on October 1, 2013 lasting 16 days. In addition, employees 
hired since 2012 have seen required contribution increases to their 
retirement, bringing our federal workers' total sacrifice to date to 
$159 billion over ten years.
   It is because of these sacrifices that I supported legislation to 
allow furloughed workers to receive back pay for time out of work 
during the 2013 shutdown. In addition, I introduced the Federal 
Employee Combat Zone Tax Parity Act, which would extend the tax credit 
available to military personnel who serve in combat zones to the 
civilian federal employees that work alongside them.
   Congress charges federal employees with important duties and expects 
these duties to be performed with the highest caliber of expertise, but 
rather than being recognized for their service, these public servants 
see their salary and benefits continually used as a pawn in the game of 
politics. We continue to ask our federal civilian workforce to do more 
with less.
   According to data collected by the Office of Personnel Management's 
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, there has been a decline in federal 
employee job and workplace satisfaction for the fourth consecutive 
year. A score sheet compiled by the Partnership for Public Service 
shows that government-wide, federal employee job satisfaction and 
commitment fell 0.9 points in 2014 to a score of 56.9 out of 100. 
Morale among our nation's civilian federal workforce is at a historical 
low and these continued attacks keep the highly-skilled and experienced 
people we need from seeking a federal job.
   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 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 have been and are certainly willing to continue 
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 several 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 H. Con. Res. 27 because it is 
Congress' constitutional duty to budget and appropriate. Congress must 
get back to regular order. Congress does our federal employees no 
favors when governing by continuing resolution and through crisis 
management. We must bring more certainty to the annual federal 
appropriations process.
   This budget proposal is a means for Congress to further discuss our 
country's fiscal challenges, but I will continue to push for deficit 
reduction efforts in the future that focus more realistically on 
addressing the true drivers of our debt, rather than targeting those 
who serve their nation every day.

                          ____________________