[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VERMONT FEDERAL EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATION 2016 AWARDS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, to commemorate Public Recognition 
Week, the Vermont Federal Executive Association--VTFEA--recognized the 
more than 4,000 Federal employees working across the State and the good 
work they do every day. I would like to offer special congratulations 
to the 2016 Excellence in Government award winners, who have been 
recognized by VTFEA for their exemplary government service: Vermont 
Federal Team of the Year Award, The Northwest Vermont Locality Pay 
Committee--Brandon Ackel, Transportation Security Administration; 
Robert Brugman, National Credit Union Administration; Brian Johansson, 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Kelly Larsen, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Alaska; Bruce McDonald, Transportation 
Security Administration; Sean McVey, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection; Mark Nielsen, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; 
Jeff Ostlund, Transportation Security Administration; Corey Price, U.S. 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas; Lisa Rees, U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration Services; Diana Richardson, Federal Aviation 
Administration; Krista Scheele, Transportation Security Administration.
  In November 2012, VTFEA discussed what initiatives would benefit the 
most Federal employees, and it didn't take long to realize that 
securing locality pay for Vermont was the No. 1 priority. In early 
2013, VTFEA created a Locality Pay Committee, consisting of employees 
from six Federal agencies. Working tirelessly, the team prepared a 
locality pay proposal for northwest Vermont and, in December 2013, 
presented it to the Federal Salary Council in Washington, DC. 
Unfortunately, the first proposal was denied, so the following year, 
they tried again. Again, the proposal was denied. Not to be 
discouraged, the team drafted a third proposal in November 2015, and 
committee members traveled to Washington at their own expense to 
support the package and their fellow Vermonters. At the hearing, the 
council approved the package, which is waiting for approval by the 
President's pay agent and the President. The Northwest Vermont Locality 
Pay Committee's tenacity, collaborative spirit, and positivity is why 
Vermont is being considered for locality pay. And it is because of 
their efforts that VTFEA chose them as Federal Team of the 
Year.

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