Press Releases

(SPRINGFIELD, MA) Congressman Richard E. Neal released the following statement today in response to President Donald J. Trump’s proposal to cancel a pay raise for nearly 2 million federal employees.

“The public servants who make up our civilian federal workforce deserve to be compensated fairly for the important work that they do each day on behalf of our country. That is why I strongly oppose President Trump’s proposal today to cancel a pay raise for nearly 2 million hard working Americans. Does the president really believe the nurse at the VA hospital who looks after our brave veterans is not entitled to a raise in pay? What about the TSA agent who protects our airports? Or the FEMA official who is bringing disaster relief to families in need? Don’t’ they deserve to see a little more in their paycheck each week? President Trump said the reason for canceling the pay raise was economic sustainability and the need to save money. But he was not preaching fiscal rectitude last year when he signed a $1.5 trillion tax cut that primarily benefits the wealthy. As we prepare to celebrate Labor Day, the work of our federal employees should be acknowledged, and their modest pay raise should not be cancelled,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.

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