[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 581 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
March 31, 2004.
Whereas civilian employees and members of the uniformed services of the United
States provide critical services and protection for our citizens and
taxpayers, and make many other significant contributions to the general
welfare of the Nation;
Whereas the ability of the Federal Government to provide a competitive salary
plays a critical role in its ability to recruit and retain individuals
possessing the skills necessary to provide government services
effectively and efficiently to the American people;
Whereas the current pay system hampers the ability of the Federal Government to
achieve the goals referred to in the preceding clause;
Whereas the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, commonly referred
to as ``FEPCA'', sought to achieve comparability between Federal and
non-Federal pay rates through annual pay adjustments based on changes in
private-sector wages and salaries;
Whereas increases in the pay of members of the uniformed services and of
civilian employees of the United States have not kept pace with
increases in the overall pay levels of workers in the private sector, so
that there currently exists an estimated 32 percent gap between
compensation levels of Federal civilian employees and those of private
sector workers, and an estimated 5.7 percent gap between compensation
levels of members of the uniformed services and those of private sector
workers; and
Whereas, in almost every year during the past two decades, there have been equal
adjustments in the compensation of members of the uniformed services and
the compensation of civilian employees of the United States: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(1) compensation for civilian employees and members of the uniformed
services of the United States must be sufficient to support our critical
efforts to recruit, retain, and reward quality people in Government
service; and
(2) to help achieve this objective, in fiscal year 2005,
compensation for civilian employees of the United States should be
adjusted at the same time, and in the same proportion, as are rates of
compensation for members of the uniformed services.
Attest:
Clerk.