[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. ____________________