[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

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REPORT RELATIVE TO AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR CIVILIAN 
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE GENERAL SCHEDULE AND CERTAIN OTHER PAY 
                     SYSTEMS IN JANUARY 2021--PM 44

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs:

To the Congress of the United States:
  I am transmitting an alternative plan for pay adjustments for 
civilian Federal employees covered by the General Schedule and certain 
other pay systems in January 2021.
  Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me to implement alternative 
plans for pay adjustments for civilian Federal employees covered by the 
General Schedule and certain other pay systems if, because of 
``national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the 
general welfare,'' I view the increases that would otherwise take 
effect as inappropriate.
  Under current law, locality pay increases averaging 20.67 percent, 
costing $21 billion in the first year alone, would go into effect in 
January 2021, in addition to a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase 
for the base General Schedule.
  We must maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable 
course; Federal agency budgets cannot sustain such increases. 
Accordingly, I have determined that it is appropriate to exercise my 
authority to set alternative pay adjustments for 2021 pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 5303(b) and 5 U.S.C. 5304a.
  Specifically, I have determined that for 2021 the across-the-board 
base pay increase will be limited to 1.0 percent and locality pay 
percentages will remain at their 2020 levels. This alternative pay plan 
decision will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a 
well-qualified Federal workforce.
  As noted in my Budget for Fiscal Year 2021, our pay system must 
reform to align with mission-critical recruitment and retention goals, 
and to reward employees whose performance provides value for the 
American people.
  For this purpose, my Budget further directs agencies to increase 
awards spending in FY 2021 by an amount equal to no less than 1 percent 
of total salary spending. My Administration will continue to support 
reforms that advance these aims.
  The adjustment described above shall take effect on the first day of 
the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
The White House, February 10, 2020.

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