I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 396 

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. 

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 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Congressional Pay Ad5 justment Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN ANNUAL RATES OF PAY FOR MEM2 BERS OF CONGRESS. 

3 (a) REDUCTION.—Notwithstanding any other provi4 sion of law, the annual rate of pay for each Member of 

5 Congress shall be equal to— 

6 (1) for pay periods occurring during 2015, the 

7 applicable rate in effect for pay periods occurring 

8 during 2013 reduced by 20 percent, rounded to the 

9 nearest multiple of $100 (or, if midway between 

10 multiples of $100, to the next higher multiple of 

11 $100); and 

12 (2) for subsequent pay periods, the applicable 

13 rate during 2013, subject to adjustment under para14 graph (2) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reor15 ganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31(2)). 

16 (b) MEMBER OF CONGRESS DEFINED.—For pur17 poses of this Act, the term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means 

18 an individual serving in a position under subparagraph 

19 (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reor20 ganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31). 

21 SEC. 3. PROHIBITING ADJUSTMENTS IN MEMBER PAY UN22 LESS FEDERAL BUDGET IS BALANCED. 

23 (a) RESTRICTIONS ON ADJUSTMENTS.—Notwith24 standing any other provision of law, no adjustment shall 

25 be made under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorga26 nization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) (relating to cost of 


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•HR 396 IH

1 living adjustments for Members of Congress) during any 

2 fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2014) unless the 

3 Secretary of the Treasury submits a report that a Federal 

4 budget deficit did not exist in the previous fiscal year, in 

5 accordance with subsection (b). 

6 (b) DETERMINATION AND REPORT.— 

7 (1) RESPONSIBILITIES OF SECRETARY.—Not 

8 later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year 

9 (beginning with fiscal year 2013), the Secretary of 

10 the Treasury shall— 

11 (A) make a determination of whether a 

12 Federal budget deficit existed in that fiscal 

13 year; and 

14 (B) submit a report of that determination 

15 to Congress. 

16 (2) DETERMINATION OF DEFICIT.—For pur17 poses of this Act, a Federal budget deficit shall be 

18 considered to exist in a fiscal year if total budget 

19 outlays of the Government for such fiscal year ex20 ceed total revenues of the Government for such fiscal 

21 year as of the last day of such fiscal year. 

Æ 


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