H.R. 396 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 396 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 23, 2013 Ms. Jenkins introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To reduce the annual rates of pay for Members of Congress by 20 percent, and to prohibit an adjustment in such rates during a year unless the Federal Government did not run a deficit in the previous fiscal year. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Congressional Pay Adjustment Act. 2. Reduction in annual rates of pay for Members of Congress (a) Reduction Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the annual rate of pay for each Member of Congress shall be equal to— (1) for pay periods occurring during 2015, the applicable rate in effect for pay periods occurring during 2013 reduced by 20 percent, rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or, if midway between multiples of $100, to the next higher multiple of $100); and (2) for subsequent pay periods, the applicable rate during 2013, subject to adjustment under paragraph (2) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31(2)). (b) Member of Congress defined For purposes of this Act, the term Member of Congress means an individual serving in a position under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31). 3. Prohibiting adjustments in Member pay unless Federal budget is balanced (a) Restrictions on adjustments Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no adjustment shall be made under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) (relating to cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress) during any fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2014) unless the Secretary of the Treasury submits a report that a Federal budget deficit did not exist in the previous fiscal year, in accordance with subsection (b). (b) Determination and report (1) Responsibilities of Secretary Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2013), the Secretary of the Treasury shall— (A) make a determination of whether a Federal budget deficit existed in that fiscal year; and (B) submit a report of that determination to Congress. (2) Determination of deficit For purposes of this Act, a Federal budget deficit shall be considered to exist in a fiscal year if total budget outlays of the Government for such fiscal year exceed total revenues of the Government for such fiscal year as of the last day of such fiscal year.