Federal Managers Association President Renee Johnson also joined the call for lawmakers to extend the 2.4 percent pay increase to civilian feds, and she thanked Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., for their support on the issue.

“As our nation struggles to close its deficit spending, we are very aware that sacrifices must be made, but federal employees have endured many years of pay freezes or very small increases,” Johnson said in a statement. “We appreciate the support we have from some in Congress and ask that pay parity return to a matter of course. The annual pay raise was designed to close the gap between the public and private sector salaries.”