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H.Res.657 / 112th Congress

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives supporting Federal employees.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 15, 2012

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) Congress and the President should end the pay freeze for federal employees in January 2013 and should prevent any further cuts to federal employee pensions or benefits; (2) federal employee contributions to their retirement system should not be increased; (3) the annuity multiplier used to determine retirement benefits for federal employees should not be decreased; (4) the Federal Employees Retirement System annuity supplement should not be eliminated and federal employees who are eligible to retire should be able to do so regardless of their age; (5) Social Security reform should not include utilizing a Chained Consumer Price Index, which would reduce federal annuities; (6) the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program should not be turned into a voucher program that shifts the costs of health insurance to employees and retirees; (7) the tax increase on new federal employees that funds part of the extension of the Unemployment Insurance program should be repealed; (8) the work that federal employees perform on behalf of the American people should be respected; and (9) Congress should recognize that efforts to reduce the compensation and support provided to federal employees undermine our government's ability to meet its obligations to citizens and hurt federal agencies' ability to recruit and retain a high-quality federal workforce.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Clarke, Hansen [D-MI-13] · D–MI

Committees

  • Ways and Means Committee
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  2. Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 4, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.657 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.657 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.657 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.657 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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