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 Com-
mittee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined 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. 
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 ‘‘Congressional Pay Ad-
justment Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN ANNUAL RATES OF PAY FOR MEM-
BERS OF CONGRESS. 
(a) REDUCTION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion 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 para-
graph (2) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reor-
ganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31(2)). 
(b) MEMBER
OF CONGRESS DEFINED.—For pur-
poses 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 Reor-
ganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31). 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITING ADJUSTMENTS IN MEMBER PAY UN-
LESS FEDERAL BUDGET IS BALANCED. 
(a) RESTRICTIONS
ON
ADJUSTMENTS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, no adjustment shall 
be made under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorga-
nization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) (relating to cost of 
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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 pur-
poses 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 ex-
ceed total revenues of the Government for such fiscal 
year as of the last day of such fiscal year. 
Æ 
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