FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2022
December 20, 2022
Contact:
Michael Newberger
202-702-2724
[email protected]
AFGE Calls for Immediate Passage of Omnibus Budget Bill to Keep Government Running
$1.7 trillion package will continue to fund the government, and includes key priorities for American Federation of Government Employees members.
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees today called for swift passage of the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, a comprehensive $1.7 trillion spending package released by Congressional leaders early Tuesday morning.
The bill prevents the government from shutting down on Dec. 23 and funds key AFGE priorities including:
- Funding for implementing a new personnel system at the Transportation Security Administration, which will help bring Transportation Security Officers’ pay into line with the rest of the federal government, as well as new hiring and support for exit lane personnel
- Increased funding for the Social Security Administration, Federal Bureau of Prisons, National Science Foundation, and numerous other defense and non-defense agencies
- New mandatory funding to support the care of toxic-exposed veterans under the recently enacted “Honoring the PACT Act,” as well as increased funding for veterans’ health and benefits programs
- Defunding the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission, which was designed to facilitate the closure of VA healthcare facilities, as well as adopting new language protecting rural VA facilities from future cuts
- Leaving intact a planned 4.6% federal pay raise set to go into effect on Jan. 1
“The omnibus bill is essential for keeping the government functioning after Friday and should be enacted without delay,” said AFGE President Dr. Everett Kelley. “The bill will help federal workers in a variety of agencies as they continue to tirelessly serve the American people. We are particularly pleased to see that Transportation Security Officers, who work night and day to keep us safe, will finally see improved wages and personnel practices.”
The bill follows months of negotiations between Congressional appropriators in both chambers. Fiscal Year 2022 ended on September 30, and the government has been operating since then on a series of short-term funding bills. The Senate and House must both pass the omnibus bill and have it signed by President Biden to prevent a government shutdown.
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