Norton Introduces Resolution to Recognize Federal Workers and Call Attention to the Impact of Sequestration

Washington, DC – Today, during the first week of sequestration, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a resolution to commend federal employees for their work through times of war and peace, recession and prosperity, and global instability and uncertainty. "The resolution is simply a way to let federal employees know that they are appreciated as they perform critical services despite facing the third year of pay freezes, a sequester that makes it difficult to perform their duties and the prospect of furloughs for as many as a million of the three million federal employees," said Norton.

The Norton resolution lays out the many missions of federal employees that are indispensable to the delivery of critical services by the federal government. It commends their significant increases in productivity, even as more responsibilities have been placed on each federal employee in light of freezes on filling vacancies and annual pay increases. The resolution points to the higher average levels of education of federal workers compared with private-sector workers, and to federal employee efforts that have resulted in medical discoveries, improved health, and other scientific advances, from space exploration to biological discoveries in oceans.

The resolution begins by noting that thousands of civilian federal employees have given their lives in the line of duty for their country and that their families now receive United States flags in their honor pursuant to bipartisan legislation. The resolution is almost entirely about the many functions, increased productivity, and important benefits that federal employees bring to the American people. However, it ends by stating federal employees' salaries and benefits should not be uniquely targeted for deficit reduction.

Because members of Congress enjoy constitutional protection against pay cuts, as a gesture of support for federal workers, Norton will donate a day's pay for every day federal employees are furloughed to the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund and to her office to avoid furloughs and maintain the same level of constituent service. She is seeking co-sponsors for her resolution. The full text of the resolution follows:

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the Federal workforce.

Whereas thousands of civilian Federal employees have given their lives in the line of duty for their country, and their families now receive United States flags in their honor pursuant to bipartisan legislation;

Whereas Federal employees have supported, defended, and been indispensable to the progress the United States has achieved through times of war and peace, recession and prosperity, and global instability and uncertainty;

Whereas Federal employees have demonstrated outstanding productivity as indicated by the decline in the Federal workforce relative to the Nation's population, with 92 residents for every Federal worker in the 1950s and 1960s to 145 residents for every Federal worker in 2011;

Whereas approximately 80 percent of Federal workers have attended college, compared with approximately 60 percent of private-sector workers;

Whereas approximately 21 percent of Federal workers hold masters, professional, or doctorate degrees, compared with approximately 9 percent of private-sector workers;

Whereas Federal employees undertake medical research that has resulted in vital discoveries and improved health due to improved vaccines, diagnoses, and cures, saving lives, and enabling people in the United States to live longer and healthier;

Whereas Federal employees have achieved significant new scientific advances, from space exploration on Mars to biological discoveries in oceanic waters;

Whereas Federal employees provide homeland security and protection for more than 8,000 miles of United States international land and water borders, while detecting and preventing illegal activities and contraband at the borders;

Whereas Federal employees prevent the entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons into the United States and conduct investigations to prevent national security breaches and cyber crimes;

Whereas Federal employees engage in research, development, and deployment of high-level technology and other resources to protect the United States;

Whereas Federal employees ensure the safe operation of commercial and private aircraft, and provide security for, and protection of, air travelers, airports, and aircraft;

Whereas Federal employees prosecute white-collar and financial crimes, public corruption, ethics violations, and fraud against taxpayer-supported government services;

Whereas Federal employees prosecute violations of criminal laws, including felonies, narcotics charges, domestic violence, and child exploitation;

Whereas Federal employees enforce Federal laws in the public interest and prosecute cases in Federal courts to protect civil rights and liberties;

Whereas Federal employees provide law enforcement and police protection of national borders, domestic land, and territories, and Federal buildings, monuments, and parks;

Whereas Federal employees perform scientific, technical, and legal work to protect copyrights, trademarks, and patents in furtherance of the United States progress in technology, biosciences, and international competition;

Whereas Federal employees perform research and other scientific work related to environmental and life sciences management, conservation, and resource utilization;

Whereas Federal employees inspect and oversee agricultural production and distribution throughout the United States;

Whereas Federal employees provide medical and public health services for members of the United States Armed Forces and veterans in Veterans' Administration hospitals, military hospitals, and community-based clinics throughout the United States;

Whereas Federal employees are responsible for many invaluable social services, including Social Security, disability benefits, medical benefits, housing, employment, education, transportation, substance abuse, and adoption and foster care;

Whereas the United States Postal Service is entirely self-supporting and while its employees do not receive Federal funding, it ensures that every corner of the United States is served and connected regardless of zip code, from rural letter carriers to inner-city package-delivery services; and

Whereas Federal employees have been steadfast in accomplishing their indispensable missions, critical to the lives and well-being of the people of the United States, during the "Great Recession" and recovery, hiring freezes, pay freezes, and sequestration under which as many as 1,000,000 Federal employees face the possibility of furlough days: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—

(1) Federal employees should be commended for their tireless work and extensive efforts on behalf of the people of the United States;

(2) Federal employees further should be commended for the benefits that they bring to the public welfare, to the progress of democracy, and to the United States as a whole; and

(3) Federal employees' salaries and benefits should not be uniquely targeted for deficit reduction.

Published: March 5, 2013