Connolly once again offers pay hike legislation

The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act would finance a pay increase for all feds at an average of 3.2%. If passed, the law would mandate an across-the-board increase of 2.2% and a 1% increase in locality pay.

The issue has become a perennial effort for the congressman, who is the House Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman. He and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced similar legislation in the past two Congresses, and Schatz is going to re-introduce the bill in the Senate soon.

"Federal employees have scapegoated for four long years," Connolly said in a statement about the bill. "They deserve better. The FAIR Act is a critical step towards recognizing their contributions and providing fair and just compensation."

The pay gap between private and public sector employees has also long been an issue. According to the latest Federal Salary Council statistics announced in fall 2020, federal employees make an average of 23.1% less than private sector counterparts.

The National Treasury Employees Union has endorsed the bill.

"An average 3.2% pay adjustment is essential in helping these middle-class workers keep pace with inflation and ever-increasing consumer costs," said NTEU National President Tony Reardon in a statement. "Federal employees deserve wages that pay the bills, send their kids to college, save for the future and help ensure they resist the temptation to leave for higher paychecks in the private sector."