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NARFE Applauds House Passage of 2.6 Percent Pay Raise for Federal Employees

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (January 30, 2019) – In response to the House of Representatives passing H.R. 790, the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019,which would override the federal employee pay freeze currently in effect and increase federal pay rates by 2.6 percent for calendar year 2019, NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statement:

“This modest 2.6 percent pay raise is in line with the pay raise provided to uniformed service members this year and is not to be mistaken for amends from the recent shutdown. Desperately needed after 35 dysfunctional days and a third shutdown in a year, it ensures that federal employee pay rates remain competitive with the private sector so that our government can recruit and retain a well-qualified and high-performing workforce.

“Federal employees such as doctors and nurses who care for our veterans, cybersecurity professionals tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and responding to emerging threats, NASA engineers, NIH scientists, federal law enforcement and intelligence officers, prosecutors and judges – these individuals and many more who make up our federal workforce require adequate compensation, or we risk losing their talents. 

“Today’s passage of the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019 in the House is a small step towards showing our nation’s public servants the respect they deserve. I now urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead and provide federal employees a raise without delay.”

Thomas sent a letter to members of the House on January 29, urging them to support H.R. 790, the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019.

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The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), one of America’s oldest and largest associations, was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. The largest federal employee/retiree organization, NARFE represents the interests of 5 million current and future federal annuitants, spouses and survivors.

CONTACT:
Jill Talley
NARFE Deputy Director, Public Relations
jtalley@narfe.org
(703)838-7760