News Release

OPM Director Swears In New Chair of Federal Salary Council

Council Plans Jumpstart on 2005 Locality Pay

Washington, D.C. -- Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, in a private ceremony today, swore in Terri Lacy as chairman of the Federal Salary Council. "Having chaired or served on many commissions, Terri is well suited for her new role with the Federal Salary Council," James said. "Her experience in the public and private sector gives her unique insight. She will be a valuable asset to help implement the President's Management Agenda."

Ms. Lacy is a Partner at Andrews & Kurth, L.L.P. in Houston and has focused her practice in tax planning and government ethics. She also served as the Chair of the Texas Racing Commission from 1998 to February, 2003. She received her undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University and her law degree from Southern Methodist University Law School.

The Federal Salary Council is composed of nine members appointed by the President. The Council provides recommendations to the President's Pay Agent (Secretary of Labor and Directors of the Office of Management and Budget and Office of Personnel Management) on the make-up of locality pay areas, the process of comparing Federal rates of pay to the non-Federal sector (including coverage of Bureau of Labor Statistics pay surveys), and the level of comparability payments. The Council will review the application of locality pay area definitions this year in response to new statistical area definitions published by the Office of Management and Budget on June 6, 2003.

The Federal Salary Council will have one or more public meetings in early fall 2003 to discuss the definition of locality pay areas as well as make separate recommendations on locality pay adjustments for January 2005. The dates of public meetings will be announced in the Federal Register. The Council is expected to submit its final recommendations to the President's Pay Agent by late October 2003.

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OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public with up-to-date employment information. OPM also supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.

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