7/8/08: Today’s approval by a key Senate subcommittee of a 3.9 percent pay raise in 2009 for federal civilian employees is another welcome step forward in securing a fair and reasonable increase that also will aid federal agency recruitment and retention efforts. This action by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government is a reflection of the understanding of its members of the continuing contributions to our nation of the federal workforce.

The 3.9 percent increase matches action recently taken by the House Appropriations Committee, which last month also approved a 3.9 percent pay raise for civilian employees in moving its version of the same spending bill. Tomorrow the full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up this legislation and I expect full details of the bill to be released then.

I am pleased that the increase matches that in the Defense authorization bill for members of the military and continues the long-standing tradition of parity in military and civilian pay increases. Both groups of federal workers deserve this recognition for their service.