Bilirakis, Soto, Castor Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Establish Locality Pay Areas for Tampa and Orlando

October 30, 2026 Press Release -Bill would help federal agencies recruit and retain skilled employees serving Veterans, supporting military readiness, and delivering essential public services- WASHINGTON, D.C. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) this week introduced the Locality Pay Adjustment Act (H.R. 10898), bipartisan legislation to establish separate federal locality pay areas for the Orlando and Tampa metropolitan regions, helping civilian federal agencies offer more competitive compensation and attract and retain qualified employees.  Currently, federal employees in Orlando and Tampa receive the broad “Rest of U.S.” locality adjustment, while employees in South Florida and the Melbourne/Space Coast areas receive adjustments specific to their regional labor markets. Locality pay is intended to address differences between federal and nonfederal compensation within a geographic area.  Despite rising living costs and increasingly competitive private sector wages, Orlando and Tampa lack separate locality pay designations. This affects civilian employees who care for Veterans, assist Social Security beneficiaries, support airport operations, and carry out critical national security missions at MacDill Air Force Base and other military installations. Establishing distinct pay localities would help federal compensation better reflect regional labor markets and strengthen the workforce responsible for delivering essential public services. “ Our civilian federal employees care for our Veterans, support our military, and help protect our nation. Yet Tampa Bay’s outdated pay designation makes it harder to recruit and retain the skilled professionals who carry out these essential missions ,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “ At MacDill Air Force Base, home to U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command, workforce shortages can have real consequences for military readiness and national security. Our bipartisan legislation would establish a pay locality that better reflects our regional labor market and the realities employees face, including rising living costs, traffic, and lengthy commutes. We must give our federal agencies the tools to compete for talent and retain the experienced workforce our country depends on.” “ In Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, so many of our constituents form part of the civilian federal workforce-whether it be by working at the Space Coast, Orlando International Airport, the Lake Nona and Kissimmee VAs, and so many other critical places that help keep Central Florida moving forward ,” said Rep. Soto. “ I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Reps. Bilirakis and Castor to support our federal employees as the cost of living continues to increase in the region.” “ The cost of living in the Tampa Bay area has escalated rapidly and is pricing out the civilian federal workforce. From our air traffic controllers and TSA agents at Tampa International Airport to our Social Security Administration employees and the more than 8,000 civilians working in critical missions at MacDill Air Force Base, these individuals make an incredible commitment to service every day ,” said Rep. Castor. “ Tampa’s current lack of a unique locality pay designation - which determines compensation - fails to acknowledge the high cost of living and is harming the ability to hire and retain talent in the public and private sectors. Congress can help fix this, so I am introducing bipartisan legislation with Reps. Soto and Bilirakis to stand up for our hardworking neighbors and proper compensation.” The legislation has earned support from business and federal workforce leaders who recognize the importance of competitive compensation to maintaining reliable public services and strong regional institutions. “ The Tampa Bay Chamber strongly supports legislation to establish federal locality pay for the Tampa metropolitan area, ensuring compensation better reflects our region’s competitive labor market. From MacDill Air Force Base to our veterans’ healthcare facilities and other federal agencies, these employees play a vital role in our economy, national security, and quality of life ,” said Bob Rohrlack, President & CEO of the Tampa Bay Chamber. “ Establishing locality pay is an important step toward strengthening workforce competitiveness, attracting and retaining skilled talent, and supporting the long-term success of our region’s federal institutions.” “AFGE appreciates the bipartisan bill from Representatives Soto, Castor, and Bilirakis to improve pay for federal employees in Orlando and Tampa. Federal employees all across the country are substantially underpaid relative to their counterparts in the private sector and state and local government ,” said Tatishka Thomas, National Vice President of AFGE District 5. Upon introduction, the Locality Pay Adjustment Act was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.