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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts)
For Immediate Release
August 20, 1998
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
ON THE 1999 FEDERAL PAY RAISE
I am announcing today my support for a 3.6 percent pay raise in
1999 for Federal civilian employees and military personnel. This
increase is consistent with preliminary appropriations and authorizing
actions already taken in Congress. I urge the Congress to enact
legislation providing for such an increase, and if Congress fails to
act, I will use my executive authority to guarantee that a 3.6 increase
takes effect.
An increase of 3.6 percent for Federal employees would essentially
allow Federal pay to match the growth in private sector wages. Given
the high level of productivity of Federal employees and the continuing
trend of solid real income gains in the private sector, I believe that
federal employees deserve the recognition and compensation that this
increase provides. I will continue to work with Congress and labor to
review the means by which we ensure fair and equitable pay.
Since the first days of this Administration, the Vice-President
and I have worked to streamline the federal government. Today, the
government operates more efficiently and better serves the American
people. This success would not have been possible without government
employees who have been called upon to work harder and to do more with
less. Our federal employees have risen to that mission and with this
action we recognize their efforts.
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