Alexandria, VA – On Wednesday, June 26, the House of Representatives passed the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2020 (H.R. 3351) by a vote of 224-196. The bill provides for a 3.1 percent pay raise for feds in 2020, and would prevent the administration’s proposed merger of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with the General Services Administration (GSA). Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following comments on the subcommittee passage of the legislation:

"FMA commends the House of Representatives on passing this important funding bill for FY2020. We are particularly pleased the bill includes a reasonable pay raise for feds in 2020. As I’ve repeatedly stated, Congress and the administration must compensate federal employees fairly, show our country they are valued, and ensure our agencies receive the funds they need to execute their critical missions. The 3.1 percent pay raise included in H.R. 3351 demonstrates a well-deserved commitment to the federal workforce.

Alexandria, VA – Earlier this week, The Washington Post published part of a briefing document from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) detailing furloughs and layoffs of 150 OPM employees beginning in August if Congress does not approve the administration’s proposed merger of OPM with the General Services Administration (GSA). Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following comments on the news:

"It is concerning to learn of OPM’s plans for furloughs if Congress does not enact the proposed merger of OPM and GSA. FMA expressed objections with the merger regarding the politicization of human resources, and there was clear skepticism and criticism shared by both Democrats and Republicans at the May 2019 Government Operations Subcommittee hearing on the proposal. The Government Accountability Office and OPM’s own Inspector General also pointedly offered criticism for the lack of detail and transparency regarding the proposal.

Alexandria, VA – The Federal Managers Association (FMA) applauds the introduction of legislation in the House of Representatives to address one of its legislative priorities for the 116th Congress. On Thursday, May 2, Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 2478). The bill would allow Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees an opportunity to make catch-up retirement contributions for service in past temporary positions. This issue was originally brought to FMA by our members at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Oklahoma, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. FMA National President Renee Johnson released the following statement on the introduction of the bill: