Mikulski Urges Conferees to Reject Draconian Increases to Federal Employees’ Retirement Contributions as Work on Budget Deal Continues

Senator urges Budget Conference Committee to cancel sequester for two years and reject proposals to require federal employees to pay substantially more for their retirement

December 4, 2013

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today in a letter to Budget Conference Committee leaders Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Representatives Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called for a budget agreement that recognizes the value of federal employees by canceling sequester for at least two years and rejecting draconian proposals to require federal employees to pay substantially more for their retirement.

“Each and every day, federal employees stand up for America. But they are worried about their jobs and futures. Their pay has been frozen for three years. Many were furloughed this year because of sequester. During the shutdown, they were told to stay home, and their paychecks were late. Now, they are deeply troubled by proposals to require them to pay considerably more for their retirement. I value the service of federal employees, and I know how important these benefits are to these middle class families,” Senator Mikulski said. “I want federal employees to know that I am on their side. Federal employees have been undervalued and underappreciated for too long. That’s why I fought so hard to ensure that in January, federal employees can receive a modest one percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This will be the first COLA in four years and it is long overdue. To turn around and take 5.5 percent more out of their pockets to pay for the same retirement benefits is a cruel bait-and-switch for their compensation.”

Maryland is home to the headquarters of 20 major federal agencies, from the Social Security Administration to the Food and Drug Administration. More than 300,000 federal employees and retirees live and work in Maryland, serving the nation and serving the world.   Continue reading “Mikulski Urges Conferees to Reject Draconian Increases to Federal Employees’ Retirement Contributions as Work on Budget Deal Continues”