The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a spending bill that would boost civilian federal employees' pay by 3.9 percent in 2009.
That adjustment would be 1 percentage point higher than the 2.9 percent raise proposed by President Bush in February, but it is identical to the civilian pay hike passed last month by House appropriators.
Federal employee groups praised the Senate panel for exceeding Bush's request. "Congressional support for a fair and reasonable pay raise is a clear message for the federal employees who perform the work of the American people every day that their efforts and commitment to excellence are recognized and appreciated," said National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley.
A portion of the 3.9 percent civilian pay hike would be allocated for locality pay; the rest would go toward an across-the-board increase.
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