[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL FIREFIGHTER PAY EQUITY ACT

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 1994

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Congressional Fire 
Services Caucus, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the 
firefighter pay equity bill. Senator Sarbanes, a distinguished cochair 
of the Fire Caucus, introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
  Our Government employs approximately 10,800 structural firefighters, 
and nearly 1,600 wildland firefighters. These brave men and women 
protect our military bases, Federal civilian property, and vast 
expanses of forest and national park land. It is ironic that despite 
the serious responsibilities of Federal firefighters, and despite the 
risk they face, these men and women are among the lowest compensated 
employees in Government.
  Unlike other paid firefighters across the country who work an average 
of 50 hours a week, Federal firefighters work an average of 72 hours a 
week. Consequently, when you translate their Federal salary into an 
hourly wage, these firefighters are earning slightly more than entry 
level fast food servers--$6.20 an hour. This is not only unbelievable, 
but it illustrates why the Federal fire service has trouble attracting 
and retaining firefighters.
  In 1990, I worked very hard to help pass the Federal Employees Pay 
Comparability Act to bring Federal civilian employees' salaries in line 
with comparable private sector salaries. We also included a study of 
Federal firefighter pay in this legislation. In response to this 
directive, the Office of Personnel Management drafted a pay reform 
proposal for firefighters which Senator Sarbanes and I used as the base 
for our own legislation.
  Our proposal would finally give firefighters time and a half for each 
hour of overtime work. Overtime would only be considered if a 
firefighter worked more than 106 hours during a 2-week period. In 
addition, this bill also includes pay incentives for training, so that 
the Government cannot only retain qualified candidates but encourage 
our firefighters to continually improve their level of service.
  This legislation finally focuses attention on a problem which has 
been overlooked too long. I encourage my colleagues, and all of the 
Members of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus to consider this 
bill, and support its passage this year.

                          ____________________