Stop Targeting Federal Employees

Floor Speech

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I voted on Thursday, April 10, in favor of H. Con. Res. 96, authored by Budget Committee Chairman PAUL RYAN, because it is my belief that Congress has a responsibility to address our nation's fiscal crisis. This proposal is simply a way forward in the budgetary process so we can continue the debate about the financial challenges our country faces.

Like last year's proposal, the House budget plan for FY 2015 calls for significant reductions in discretionary spending, reduced taxes and the full repeal of the President's costly health care reform law. It proposes a balanced budget in the next 10 years and recognizes that we can no longer ignore the trillions of dollars in mandatory spending on entitlement programs that almost completely consume our nation's budget.

This year's plan also asks Members of Congress to again lead by example by cutting their own pay, benefits and office budgets in the quest to reduce our debt and put this nation on sound financial footing.

Further, the Ryan plan protects our nation's defense and security forces. I have repeatedly said that we must get serious about the national security threats that exist in this world and what is required of our forward presence and response forces.

Reality is that we live in a 15 aircraft carrier world. The United States Navy has 10 right now and the law says we have to have 11. We need 11 carriers in our Navy. These are mobile, sea based, warships that can sail around the globe to project power and protect our global trade and commerce.

This budget keeps 11 carriers in the fleet, giving the United States the flexibility and capabilities that are essential to the rebalance of our security posture toward the Asia Pacific, our enduring security commitments in the Middle East, and the need to respond to contingency operations around the globe.

Our nation has no greater asset than the folks who have served and are currently serving our nation, both military and civilian alike. Their dedication and service to our nation is unwavering and it is important that Congress provide the best equipment, training, and compensation so these men and women can meet their duties in full. The Ryan budget plan restores national security spending and helps our defense maintain its current strength.

These are all measures that I have and will continue to support; however, it is disappointing that this proposal, just as in past budget proposals, unfairly targets only one group of Americans for additional sacrifices: the civilian federal workforce. I have serious concerns that this resolution again forces federal employees to contribute more towards their retirement, which is the equivalent of a pay cut, and ends their defined benefit retirement plan for deficit reduction purposes.

America's First District is full of hardworking and dedicated citizens who serve the people of this nation every day, such as on the front lines of the War on Terror or in support roles for our military. Still others provide invaluable services at places such as VA hospitals, cancer and Alzheimer's research laboratories, and law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and DEA. And yet, federal civilian employees continue to see their pay cut and their benefits reduced on multiple occasions.

Federal employees have endured a pay freeze since 2010; furloughs due to sequestration; and, most recently, were required to not work because of indecision and political gamesmanship that resulted in a government shutdown for 16 days. Enough is enough.

I am fully ready and willing to enact deeper cuts to my own salary, benefits and congressional operations, which are provisions included in this year's Ryan budget, but we must stop singling out federal employees simply because Congress continually fails to address the out-of-control spending.

There is no question that our nation must get its spending in order, and federal employees are certainly willing to do their part to help in this effort. Their daily contributions to their fellow citizens and to the cause of freedom are simply innumerable, and yet during deficit reduction debate over the last few years, federal employees have been asked to contribute much more than their fair share. Our federal civilian employees live a life of selfless service, and they deserve our appreciation.

Mr. Speaker, I voted in support of the Ryan budget because it is Congress' constitutional duty to budget and appropriate. This budget proposal is a means for Congress to further discuss our country's fiscal challenges, but I am hopeful that deficit reduction efforts going forward will focus more realistically on addressing the true drivers of our debt, rather than targeting those who are trying simply to serve their nation every day.

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