On March 3, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act of 2021 (S. 561). The bill provides a 3.2 percent pay raise for federal employees in 2022 (2.2 percent boost to base pay and a 1 percent boost to locality pay). It is the companion bill to H.R. 392 introduced in the House by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA). FMA has endorsed both bills.

In a press release upon introduction, Schatz wrote, “Federal workers play a critical role in our everyday lives – caring for our veterans, fighting the pandemic through medical research, and cutting our Social Security checks. These hardworking public servants deserve a raise. Our bill gives federal employees a 3.2 percent pay increase to help make up for the paychecks they've lost because of furloughs and pay freezes over the past few years.” 

Despite a late push by the Senate last November for a pay freeze, feds received a 1 percent raise in 2021.

The FAIR Act was referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and currently has 10 cosponsors. To follow the progress of the bill, please click here.