House panel approves 3.9 percent civilian pay raise

A House panel late Monday gave its approval to a bill that would give civilian federal employees a 2009 pay raise of 3.9 percent, a figure equal to the adjustment already authorized by the House for military service members.

The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee approved the raise in its markup of a fiscal 2009 appropriations measure covering a variety of federal operations. The adjustment is 1 percent higher than the increase proposed by the Bush administration, which in February called for a 2.9 percent hike for civilian workers and a 3.4 percent pay boost for military personnel.

Approval of the raise follows calls by federal labor unions and the House Budget Committee for an equal pay raise for federal employees and military members next year.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., praised the measure for providing pay parity for military and civilian employees. "One of the most effective ways to recognize the important contributions of all our federal employees -- and also increase the attractiveness of a career in public service -- is through pay that reflects the value of the work and services they provide this nation and its citizens," he said. A portion of the proposed 3.9 percent pay hike civilian workers would receive in 2009 would be allocated for locality pay; the rest would go toward an across-the-board increase.

The full committee is expected to consider the pay raise when it takes up the appropriations bill on June 24.