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Washington, D.C.—The administration’s fiscal year 2016 budget request takes the important step of proposing an end to the deep spending cuts mandated by sequestration.

“The administration recognizes that we must end sequestration. Allowing it to return in fiscal 2016 will devastate federal agencies, which are already struggling,” said National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) National President Colleen M. Kelley.

If approved by Congress, today’s budget request would begin reversing the damaging trend of underfunding key agencies and make much-needed investments that would allow federal employees to better serve the public, Kelley said.

While applauding the administration for its position on sequestration, the NTEU leader expressed her disappointment with the proposed 1.3 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees in 2016.

“While we understand current budget constraints, we believe the proposed federal employee raise of 1.3 percent is inadequate,” said President Kelley. “NTEU is committed to working to ensure federal employees receive a true pay raise, particularly at a time when the economy is recovering and private-sector employers are providing higher raises.”

After three years of receiving no raises, federal employees received modest 1 percent increases in 2014 and 2015, the NTEU president said.

“A 1.3 percent raise will not help frontline federal employees—most of whom are members of the middle class—meet the rising costs of living and will not do enough to close the gap between federal and private-sector pay,” she said.

The administration’s parental leave initiative was reiterated in the budget, including immediate access to advanced sick leave for federal workers and proposed legislation to give federal employees six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child.

“Our government should lead the way on ensuring that federal workers can adequately care for their families,” Kelley said.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.