House members push 3% pay raise for civilian federal workers

A week after House Appropriators moved a funding bill that included a 1% pay raise for federal workers, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing for parity between the civilian workforce and members of the military.

Ten members of the House, led by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), sent a letter to Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-Texas), along with the chairman and ranking member of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, asking them to revise the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill to match the 3% raise the National Defense Authorization Act current mandates for military personnel.

“As in previous years, we support the biggest pay increase possible for our military members,” the legislators wrote. “We also want to note that with very few exceptions Congress has maintained pay parity with respect to pay raises for military and civilian federal employees.”

Connolly and his colleagues -- which include Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) -- touted the civilian workforce’s resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The federal civilian workforce is comprised of dedicated individuals who have demonstrated their critical value to this nation each day throughout this pandemic. During this global crisis, our federal government never shut down… This year, in particular, our federal civilian workforce has served this nation at the time when services were most needed.”

On Feb. 10 of this year, the White House announced in its budget request that it would request a 1 percent pay raise while also increasing the contribution expected from federal retirees.