The Senate Appropriations Committee has released a report on the financial service-general government appropriations bill that the panel approved before the congressional recess and that will be ready for a floor vote in mid-September when legislators return to work. The bill would provide a 1.4 percent average federal raise in January 2011, the amount of the White House’s request. According to the report, the measure also would continue the practice of capping wage grade raises at local GS amounts, and would bar senior political appointees from receiving a 2011 raise; such freezes in the past have in turn frozen the pay caps that apply to career employees in high-level positions. The House version of that bill is silent on the raise but a number could be set by amendment during full committee voting after Congress returns. Such a move likely would attract more attention than usual, given the continuing debate over pay levels for federal employees reflected in news articles, outside studies and OPM statements in recent weeks. OPM has said it will convene a closer look starting in September of the methods used to compare pay of federal and non-federal jobs.