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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees today called on the General Services Administration (GSA) to end internal delays and approve an increase in the reimbursement rate for federal employees who use private vehicles for official government business.

In a follow-up letter to GAO Administrator Lurita Doan, President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) reminded the administrator of her written assurance late last year that the matter was under review and that GSA would publish its decision in the Federal Register no later than Jan. 1, 2007. That assurance came in response to an earlier letter from President Kelley seeking GSA action in increasing the mileage reimbursement rate.

“Now that January 1st has passed, and a decision has not been reached, I urge you to expedite that decision and increase the rate to 48.5 cents per miles for federal workers without delay,” the NTEU leader wrote.

Such a decision, Kelley said, would be consistent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) action in raising the standard mileage rate used to calculate deductibility for taxpayers who use cars for business purposes to 48.5 cents per mile, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

GSA sets the rate for the federal sector, and its practice has been to raise the rate for federal employees who rely on their vehicles in their work to the level set by the IRS.

President Kelley told the GSA administrator she appreciates her past cooperation on this matter and looks forward to a prompt and positive resolution. “Federal employees face the same costs as those in the private sector, including rising gas prices, and they deserve the same rate increase,” she said.

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents some 150,000 employees in 30 agencies and departments.