Norton Releases Testimony for Democrats at Rules Committee Hearing in Strong Opposition to Federal Employee Pay Freeze Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released Norton's testimony on behalf of House Democrats for the Rules Committee hearing on a bill (H.R. 273) that would extend the federal employee pay freeze through the rest of the year. Norton will testify today at 3:00 p.m. in H-312, Capitol.
"These middle-class Americans who have dedicated their careers to serving the public have already contributed more than $100 billion towards reducing the nation's deficit and funding the unemployment benefits of millions of Americans," Norton said in her statement. "My colleagues on the other side of the aisle now want to extract another $11 billion from federal workers by freezing their pay for a third consecutive year…. The majority is concerned about what we cannot afford. I am certain that the American people cannot afford to lose the critical public services that our federal employees provide, and I am sure that these middle-class Americans cannot afford another pay freeze."
The full text of Norton's statement follows.
Rules Committee Statement
February 13, 2012
Thank you, Chairman Sessions and Ranking Member Slaughter, for the opportunity to speak before this Committee.
I first raise the threshold question of the process that brings me here. As a Member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I am concerned that consideration of H.R. 273 has not followed regular order. This legislation was introduced on January 15, 2013, and is scheduled for Rules Committee consideration today and House floor consideration tomorrow and Friday without having been considered by the committee of jurisdiction, the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, in either a hearing or a markup.
In addition to objecting to the process by which H.R. 273 is being rushed to the floor, I strongly object to the substance and intent of the bill, which would extend the freeze on pay for federal workers for another year.
This legislation is simply a replay of one of the last bills debated in the last hours of the 112th Congress. While acknowledging the tenaciousness with which House Republicans are waging their attacks against middle-class federal employees, the question that I ask, and that I believe many Americans are asking, is when will the House majority tire of partisan gamesmanship and end these repeated efforts to target a single group of Americans, our nation's public servants, to reduce the budget deficit?
These middle-class Americans who have dedicated their careers to serving the public have already contributed more than $100 billion towards reducing the nation's deficit and funding the unemployment benefits of millions of Americans. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle now want to extract another $11 billion from federal workers by freezing their pay for a third consecutive year.
Additionally, this potential pay freeze adds insult to injury. If Congress cannot come up with a solution to avoid the arbitrary and brutal cuts to agency budgets mandated by sequestration (which seems very likely), then there may be furloughs in the range of more than a million federal employees. So, in addition to being furloughed, which could amount to a 20% pay cut for our federal workers, this bill would also freeze what's left of their pay. I think this is more than anyone can rightfully ask our civil servants to endure.
The majority is concerned about what we cannot afford. I am certain that the American people cannot afford to lose the critical public services that our federal employees provide, and I am sure that these middle-class Americans cannot afford another pay freeze.
Instead of seeking to take money from federal workers, House Republicans should instead seek additional contributions from those who can most afford it. Chairman Sessions and Ranking Member Slaughter, it is time for the two-plus-year pay freeze to be lifted. Our country's public servants deserve no less.
Published: February 13, 2013