,,iii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ea ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #f1 #bjag ,ms4 ,hirono 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,franken1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 and ,ms4 ,cantwell7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,,resolution ,recognizing the contributions of ,federal employees and pledging to oppose efforts to reduce ,federal workforce pay and benefits1 eliminate civil service employment protections1 undermine collective bargaining1 and increase the use of non-,federal contractors for inherently governmental activities4 ,whereas ,federal agencies are tasked with the fundamental responsibility of serving to protect1 promote1 and preserve the rights and interests of the people of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the activities of the ,federal ,government encompass a broad range of activities1 including-- 7#a7 conducting and supporting military operations2 7#b7 protecting the homeland1 including transportation1 communications1 financial1 and other systems2 7#c7 preserving and enhancing public health2 7#d7 supporting the least fortunate2 7#e7 defending the rights and interests of individuals and consumers2 7#f7 enhancing and preserving the environment of the ,united ,states2 and 7#g7 promoting and facilitating commerce2 ,whereas1 to achieve these objectives1 many ,federal agencies conduct operations #bd hours per day1 #g days per week1 and #cfe days per year2 ,whereas1 according to the ,office of ,personnel ,management1 the ,federal ,government directly employs approximately #b1ajj1jjj individuals to carry out the functions of the ,federal ,government2 ,whereas1 in the past #ej years1 the population of the ,united ,states increased from approximately #aih1jjj1jjj individuals to more than #cba1djj1jjj individuals1 while the ,federal workforce actually decreased from approximately #b1bjj1jjj employees to approximately #b1ajj1jjj employees2 ,whereas the ,federal ,government functions most effectively1 and the interest of the public is served1 when the ,federal ,government offers fair compensation1 including pay1 health1 retirement1 and other benefits1 to attract and retain qualified1 diverse1 and dedicated ,federal employees2 ,whereas1 to ensure the integrity of the ,federal civil service1 it is essential that ,federal employees have access to constitutionally protected due process rights and the ability to bargain collectively2 ,whereas full- or part-time ,federal employees should primarily be responsible for the activities and functions of the ,federal ,government2 ,whereas the effective functioning of the ,federal ,government and the integrity of the civil service have been undermined by efforts to decrease pay and benefits and reduce rights with respect to due process and collective bargaining2 ,whereas1 through these efforts1 ,federal employees have already contributed more than #ahj1jjj1jjj1jjj to the reduction of the ,federal deficit1 primarily in the form of higher retirement contributions and foregone wages2 ,whereas reductions to pay and benefits1 the removal of collective bargaining rights1 and the elimination or degradation of civil service due process rights would make it harder for the ,federal ,government to attract the best and brightest to public service2 ,whereas reinstatement of the ,holman ,rule by the ,house of ,representatives as part of the resolution entitled ,resolution adopting rules for the ,one ,hundred ,fifteenth ,congress1 approved ,january #c1 #bjag1 presents a direct threat to the employment and compensation of ,federal employees1 will not result in substantial savings to the ,federal ,government1 and serves primarily to undermine the morale of the ,federal workforce2 ,whereas the ,federal hiring freeze ordered by the ,president on ,january #bc1 #bjag1 will impact the ability of the ,federal ,government to provide services across the ,united ,states1 including the ability to process the payment of ,social ,security and other benefits and conduct workplace1 food1 and product safety inspections2 and ,whereas it is in the interest of ,congress and the ,united ,states for the ,federal ,government to be able to attract a diverse1 dynamic1 and dedicated workforce in order to serve the people of the ,united ,states3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate will deny the passage of any legislation1 and challenge any action of the executive branch1 that-- 7#a7 erodes fair compensation for ,federal employees1 including by reducing wages1 unjustifiably raising health insurance premiums1 and unnecessarily or irresponsibly reducing the overall ,federal workforce1 such as an appropriations bill passed by the ,house of ,representatives that contains a provision adopted by the ,house of ,representatives under section #c7;a7 of the resolution entitled ,resolution adopting rules for the ,one ,hundred ,fifteenth ,congress1 approved ,january #c1 #bjag2 7#b7 undermines the value of employee retirement programs1 including by reducing earnings on retirement savings1 unjustly increasing employee contribution levels1 or seeking to transition fully to a private-sector styled plan consisting solely of cash or deferred arrangements described in section #dja7k7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 7#c7 diminishes the ability of ,federal employee unions to effectively represent and protect the rights of employees2 7#d7 reduces fundamental protections for civil servants1 including the right to due process2 or 7#e7 increases the use of nongovernmental contractors to perform inherently governmental functions4