IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 722 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting the Federal 

workforce. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 10, 2016 

Ms. NORTON (for herself, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 

MEEKS, and Ms. JACKSON LEE) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 

supporting the Federal workforce. 

Whereas thousands of civilian Federal employees have given 

their lives in the line of duty for their country, and their 

families now receive United States flags in their honor 

pursuant to bipartisan legislation; 

Whereas Federal employees have supported, defended, and 

been indispensable to the progress the United States has 

achieved through times of war and peace, recession and 

prosperity, and global instability and uncertainty; 

Whereas Federal employees have demonstrated outstanding 

productivity as indicated by the decline in the Federal 

workforce relative to the Nation’s population, with 92 


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residents for every Federal worker in the 1950s and 

1960s to 145 residents for every Federal worker in 2011; 

Whereas approximately 80 percent of Federal workers have 

attended college, compared with approximately 60 percent of private-sector workers; 

Whereas approximately 21 percent of Federal workers hold 

masters, professional, or doctorate degrees, compared 

with approximately 9 percent of private-sector workers; 

Whereas Federal employees undertake medical research that 

has resulted in vital discoveries and improved health due 

to improved vaccines, diagnoses, and cures, saving lives, 

and enabling people in the United States to live longer 

and healthier; 

Whereas Federal employees have achieved significant new scientific advances, from space exploration on Mars to biological discoveries in oceanic waters; 

Whereas Federal employees provide homeland security and 

protection for more than 8,000 miles of United States 

international land and water borders, while detecting and 

preventing illegal activities and contraband at the borders; 

Whereas Federal employees prevent the entry of terrorists 

and terrorist weapons into the United States and conduct 

investigations to prevent national security breaches and 

cyber crimes; 

Whereas Federal employees engage in research, development, 

and deployment of high-level technology and other resources to protect the United States; 

Whereas Federal employees ensure the safe operation of commercial and private aircraft, and provide security for, and 

protection of, air travelers, airports, and aircraft; 


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Whereas Federal employees prosecute white-collar and financial crimes, public corruption, ethics violations, and fraud 

against taxpayer-supported government services; 

Whereas Federal employees prosecute violations of criminal 

laws, including felonies, narcotics charges, domestic violence, and child exploitation; 

Whereas Federal employees enforce Federal laws in the public interest and prosecute cases in Federal courts to protect civil rights and liberties; 

Whereas Federal employees provide law enforcement and police protection of national borders, domestic land, and 

territories, and Federal buildings, monuments, and parks; 

Whereas Federal employees perform scientific, technical, and 

legal work to protect copyrights, trademarks, and patents 

in furtherance of the United States progress in technology, biosciences, and international competition; 

Whereas Federal employees perform research and other scientific work related to environmental and life sciences 

management, conservation, and resource utilization; 

Whereas Federal employees inspect and oversee agricultural 

production and distribution throughout the United 

States; 

Whereas Federal employees provide medical and public health 

services for members of the United States Armed Forces 

and veterans in Veterans’ Administration hospitals, military hospitals, and community-based clinics throughout 

the United States; 

Whereas Federal employees are responsible for many invaluable social services, including Social Security, disability 

benefits, medical benefits, housing, employment, eduVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 May 11, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR722.IH HR722

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cation, transportation, substance abuse, and adoption and 

foster care; 

Whereas the United States Postal Service is entirely self-supporting and while its employees do not receive Federal 

funding, it ensures that every corner of the United States 

is served and connected regardless of zip code, from rural 

letter carriers to inner-city package-delivery services; and 

Whereas Federal employees have been steadfast in accomplishing their indispensable missions, critical to the lives 

and well-being of the people of the United States, during 

the ‘‘Great Recession’’ and recovery, hiring freezes, pay 

freezes, and sequestration under which 1,000,000 (or as 

many as 800,000) Federal employees were furloughed: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) Federal employees should be commended for 

4 their tireless work and extensive efforts on behalf of 

5 the people of the United States; 

6 (2) Federal employees further should be com7 mended for the benefits that they bring to the public 

8 welfare, to the progress of democracy, and to the 

9 United States as a whole; and 

10 (3) Federal employees’ salaries and benefits 

11 should not be uniquely targeted for deficit reduction. 

Æ 


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