I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4461 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that agencies may not 
deduct labor organization dues from the pay of Federal employees, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 4, 2016 
Mr. TOM PRICE of Georgia (for himself, Mr. ALLEN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. 
BRAT, Mr. BUCK, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. CRAMER, 
Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina, Mr. FRANKS of Ari-
zona, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. GRAVES of Georgia, Mr. HUDSON, Mr. KING of 
Iowa, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. PALAZZO, Mr. PALMER, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. 
RATCLIFFE, Mr. ROKITA, Mr. ROUZER, Mr. SALMON, Mr. STEWART, Mr. 
STUTZMAN, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. WILSON of 
South Carolina, Mr. YOHO, Mrs. LUMMIS, and Mr. MICA) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that agen-
cies may not deduct labor organization dues from the 
pay of Federal employees, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Employee 
Rights Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. LABOR ORGANIZATION DUES. 
(a) DUES NOT DEDUCTIBLE FROM PAY.—Chapter 
71 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
section 7115 and inserting the following: 
‘‘§ 7115. Labor organization dues 
‘‘(a) DUES NOT DEDUCTIBLE FROM PAY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An agency may not deduct 
any amount from the pay of an employee for the 
dues of a labor organization. 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTION.—Appropriated funds may 
not be used to pay an employee who makes deduc-
tions described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘agency’ means— 
‘‘(A) an Executive agency (as defined in 
section 105), the United States Postal Service, 
and the Postal Regulatory Commission; 
‘‘(B) an office, agency, or other establish-
ment in the legislative branch; 
‘‘(C) an office, agency, or other establish-
ment in the judicial branch; and 
‘‘(D) the government of the District of Co-
lumbia. 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITION ON USE OF DUES FOR POLITICAL 
PURPOSES.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Employee dues collected by 
a labor organization pursuant to this chapter may 
not be used for any purpose not directly related to 
the organization’s collective bargaining activities on 
behalf of the employee under this chapter unless, 
after a notice period of not less than 35 days, the 
employee authorizes such use in writing. 
‘‘(2) EXPIRATION.—An authorization under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) expire not later than 1 year after the 
date on which such authorization is signed by 
the employee; and 
‘‘(B) not provide for an automatic renewal 
of any authorization under this subsection.’’. 
(b) POSTAL SERVICE AMENDMENT.—Section 1205 of 
title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘§ 1205. Prohibition on use of dues for political pur-
poses 
‘‘(a) Employee dues collected by a labor organization 
pursuant to this chapter may not be used for any purpose 
not directly related to the organization’s collective bar-
gaining activities on behalf of the employee under this 
chapter unless, after a notice period of not less than 35 
days, the employee authorizes such use in writing. 
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‘‘(b) An authorization under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) expire not later than 1 year after the date 
on which such authorization is signed by the em-
ployee; and 
‘‘(2) not provide for an automatic renewal of 
any authorization under this subsection.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE 5.—The table of sections at the be-
ginning of chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 
7115 and inserting the following: 
‘‘7115. Labor organization dues.’’. 
(2) TITLE 39.—The table of sections at the be-
ginning of chapter 12 of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 1205 and inserting the following: 
‘‘1205. Prohibition on use of dues for political purposes.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATES; TRANSITION PROVISIONS.— 
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this section shall take effect on the date of enact-
ment of this section. 
(2) TRANSITION PROVISIONS.— 
(A) CURRENT DEDUCTIONS FOR DUES OF 
AN EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE.—Nothing in 
this section shall, in the case of an assignment 
received before the date of enactment of this 
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section under subsection (a) of section 7115 of 
title 5, United States Code (as then in effect), 
cause the termination of such assignment be-
fore— 
(i) the date on which such assignment 
is revoked, in accordance with the last sen-
tence of such subsection (a) (as last in ef-
fect before such date of enactment); or 
(ii) if earlier, the date determined 
under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection 
(b) of such section 7115 (as last in effect 
before such date of enactment). 
(B) CURRENT DEDUCTIONS FOR DUES OF 
OTHER
LABOR
ORGANIZATIONS.—Nothing in 
this section shall, in the case of a voluntary al-
lotment made before the date of enactment of 
this section under subsection (c) of section 
7115 of title 5, United States Code (as then in 
effect), cause the termination of such allotment 
before the date on which the underlying agree-
ment (under authority of which such allotment 
is being made) ceases to have effect, whether by 
reason of section 7115(c)(2)(B) of such title 5 
(as last in effect before such date of enactment) 
or otherwise. 
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(C) CURRENT DEDUCTIONS FOR DUES OF 
A LABOR ORGANIZATION FROM POSTAL SERVICE 
EMPLOYEES.—Nothing in this section shall, in 
the case of a written assignment received before 
the date of enactment of this section under sec-
tion 1205 of title 39, United States Code (as 
then in effect), cause the termination of such 
assignment before the date on which such as-
signment— 
(i) is revoked in accordance with such 
section (as last in effect before such date 
of enactment); or 
(ii) otherwise expires. 
(3) NONRENEWABILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An agreement between 
an agency and a labor organization, entered 
into before the date of enactment of this section 
under subsection (a) or (c) of section 7115 of 
such title 5 (as then in effect), shall not, to the 
extent that it relates to deductions for the pay-
ment of dues of such labor organization, be 
subject to renewal or extension. 
(B) POSTAL SERVICE.—A written assign-
ment received by the United States Postal Serv-
ice under section 1205 of title 39, United 
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States Code (as then in effect) or an agreement 
between the United States Postal Service and 
any organization of employees in effect pursu-
ant to 1205(b) of such title (as then in effect), 
shall not, to the extent that it relates to deduc-
tions for the payment of dues of such organiza-
tion, be subject to renewal or extension. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the terms ‘‘agency’’, ‘‘exclusive representa-
tive’’, and ‘‘labor organization’’ have the respective 
meanings given such terms in section 7103 of title 
5, United States Code. 
SEC. 3. REQUIRE MAJORITY VOTE OF EMPLOYEES IN A 
UNIT TO JOIN UNION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘who cast 
valid ballots in the election’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘30 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘more than 50 percent’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f)(4), by striking ‘‘voting’’ 
and insert ‘‘in the appropriate unit’’. 
(b) POSTAL SERVICE AMENDMENTS.—Section 1203 
of title 39, United States Code, is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘a substan-
tial number of employees’’ and inserting ‘‘a majority 
of employees in a unit’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘30 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘more than 50 percent’’. 
(c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by sub-
sections (a) and (b) shall apply to any applicable election 
or petition filed after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) During any organizing activity conducted under 
this chapter, an employee may elect, in writing, to with-
hold the employee’s personal information from a labor or-
ganization.’’. 
(b) POSTAL SERVICE AMENDMENT.—Section 1203 of 
title 39, United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) During any organizing activity conducted under 
this chapter, an employee may elect, in writing, to with-
hold the employee’s personal information from a labor or-
ganization.’’. 
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SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT FOR SECRET PAPER BALLOT ELEC-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7111(d) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end after the 
period the following: ‘‘Any election under this chapter 
shall be a secret paper ballot election.’’. 
(b) 
POSTAL
SERVICE
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1204(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end after the period the following: ‘‘Any 
election under this chapter shall be a secret paper ballot 
election.’’. 
Æ 
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