House Republican leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik has called on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to increase the locality pay rate for federal employees at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Ray Brook. In a letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor, Stefanik asked for a review of cost-of-living data in New York’s North Country and requested an adjustment to the pay schedule to address rising expenses faced by correctional officers and their families.
“I write to respectfully urge the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to consider increasing the locality pay rate for federal employees working at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Ray Brook. As the Representative for New York’s 21st Congressional District, I have heard directly from correctional officers and staff at FCI Ray Brook who are struggling with the growing gap between their compensation and the state’s rapidly rising cost of living,” Stefanik wrote.
She continued, “New York has experienced a significant increase in housing prices, property taxes, energy costs, and other basic living expenses over the past several years under the Hochul Administration. Despite these increases, the federal locality pay rate for the area has remained stagnant. The rest of the United States locality payrate currently applies to FCI Ray Brook. However, New York suffers proportionally worse than the rest of the United States due to the affordability crisis under failed Governor Kathy Hochul.”
Stefanik added that this disparity has created financial challenges for law enforcement officers: “This disparity has placed an enormous financial burden on law enforcement officers who have been under constant attack by the Hochul Administration and Far Left New York Democrats.”
She also argued that aligning FCI Ray Brook’s pay with that of New York City would help recruitment and retention efforts: “Increasing the locality pay rate for FCI Ray Brook to the New York City pay rate would help alleviate recruitment and retention challenges while recognizing the critical contributions these officers make to our federal justice system. It would also bring fairness and parity to a workforce that, despite working in rural areas, is subject to many of the same economic pressures as those in higher-compensated metropolitan regions. FCI Otisville is in a near identical situation as FCI Ray Brook and receives the New York City pay rate.”
Stefanik concluded her letter with another request: “I respectfully request that OPM conduct a thorough review of the current cost of living data for the FCI Ray Brook area and strongly consider revising its locality pay schedule to more accurately reflect the financial realities on the ground. Doing so would not only improve workforce morale and stability but also ensure that these law enforcement officers receive the support and compensation they have earned.”
Elise Stefanik represents New York’s 21st district in Congress since 2015 after replacing Bill Owens. She was born in Albany in 1984 and lives in Schuylerville. Stefanik graduated from Harvard University.
The full text of her letter can be found here.
