Bill overrules the President’s pay freeze for federal employees
Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON — This week, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittees of Homeland Security, Defense and Agriculture, voted in favor of H.R.790 – Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, which would overrule President Trump’s pay freeze for federal employees and bring the 2019 pay increase for them in line with the raise given to members of the military. Under the freeze, federal employees were not expected to receive a pay increase in 2019, while members of the military would have received a pay raise of 2.6 percent. This bill would override this rule, making the 2.6 percent pay increase for federal employees effective upon enactment. Congressman Cuellar stated:
“Every day, I see firsthand the job that our federal employees perform. In this dynamic job market, it is essential for both recruitment and retention to be more competitive with wages. 800,000 American federal employees and their families were deeply affected by the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and are barely receiving their last paycheck from 2018. If the President’s freeze would have taken affect, it would have hurt an estimated of 2 million people will not receive an annual pay raise this year, including Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“Refusing across-the-board pay raises for our federal employees is shortsighted, rash, and unjustified. Instead of providing our federal workers with raises they deserve, President Trump chooses to focus on allocating billions towards a senseless, ineffective border wall.
“Our federal workers deserve better than the shutdowns, furloughs, and pay freezes. I will continue to support the welfare of our federal employees and I urge the President to sign full-year appropriations and take control of the national debt, instead of robbing federal employees of the raises they deserve.”
