House Appropriators Release Draft Funding Bill, Endorse 2.7 Percent Pay Raise

The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government advanced a draft bill that makes no mention of a federal pay raise for General Schedule employees. Thus, the legislation effectively endorses President Biden’s proposed 2.7 percent average federal civilian pay raise.

According to Federal News Network, the 2.7 percent bump is larger than the 1 percent increase employees received in FY 2021, but less than the 3.1 percent increase received in FY 2020. A group of House and Senate Democrats introduced standalone legislation that would give employees a 3.2 percent federal pay raise next year.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Association noted the benefits of the pay raise, but expressed disappointment that the House legislation failed to include “explicit language” authorizing the pay raise and, instead, simply deferred to the president’s proposal.

NARFE National President Ken Thomas explained in a statement, “This leaves federal employees in a precarious position. Now they must rely solely on President Biden to uphold a promise made in his budget request, rather than their elected representatives in Congress to secure a market-based pay increase. Civil servants remain dependent on the uncertain outcome of bipartisan, bicameral budget negotiations without any clear congressional support for their dedication to serving our nation.”

The House’s draft legislation maintains a pay freeze for the vice president and certain political appointees and executives. The legislation also blocks agencies from prohibiting use of official time or telework “when the health or safety of an employee is in question” and prevents agencies from denying employees office space for union activities.

Several agencies receive funding increases in the legislation. Among them, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would receive a $1.7 billion funding increase, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would receive a $42 million in funding increase, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would receive an additional $16.3 million.

In order to establish a new office, the National Cyber Director would receive $15 million.

The legislation also seeks to establish a Commission on Federal Naming and Displays. The commission’s duties would include receiving input from the public to identify “names, monuments, statues, public artworks, historical markers and other symbols” owned by the federal government or located on federal property which “the Commission identifies as inconsistent with the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including those that do not represent the demographic diversity and history of the community.”

After holding no less than two public meetings, the commission would be instructed issue a report recommending whether the item should remain unchanged or be renamed or removed. The report must include supporting materials for the recommendation and may recommend additional education programs or supplemental historical markers as appropriate to “promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and to promote national reconciliation.”