NARFE to Senate: Stop Playing Politics with Lives of Federal Employees, Schedule a Vote on Legislation to End Shutdown
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (January 4, 2019) – In response to the House passing legislation that would reopen the government and the Senate’s unwillingness to do the same, NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statement:
“As we begin a new year, many traditionally have high hopes for more prosperity and positive change. Unfortunately, just days into 2019 and the beginning of a new Congress, those hopes are dashed as the Senate – lacking leadership and fearing the president – showed the American people that it would rather play politics than work on behalf of constituents. The Senate’s flat out refusal to even consider legislation already passed in the House that would bring an end to the partial shutdown furthers a message of disdain toward the federal workforce. The fact that pay raises of $10,000 are being given to senior administration officials while furloughed federal employees go without income expands a divide in which the Trump administration does not relate to the lives of hardworking civil servants and financially struggling American families.
“We elect legislators to make tough decisions through substantive debate based on sound science and an understanding of how policies, government programs and laws affect the public. We do not elect them to prioritize bickering over cooperation, inactivity over productivity and party over country. Yet, here we stand with the Senate before our very eyes proving that dysfunction is more important than duty.
“The time is past for negative discourse, and we are now in a crisis. Feds and others who depend on government work are unable to pay bills and provide even the basic necessities for their families. Lawmakers must put aside political differences and find a mutually agreeable path forward that will allow federal employees to do what they do best: serve the American people. I urge the Senate to do just that by passing legislation that would end this national nightmare.”
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The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), one of America’s oldest and largest associations, was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. The largest federal employee/retiree organization, NARFE represents the interests of 5 million current and future federal annuitants, spouses and survivors.
CONTACT:
Jill Talley
NARFE Deputy Director, Public Relations
[email protected]
(703)838-7760
