I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 199 
To terminate certain lifetime benefits provided to former Members of 
Congress, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 3, 2019 
Mr. NORMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on 
Oversight and Reform, and Rules, 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 terminate certain lifetime benefits provided to former 
Members of Congress, 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 ‘‘Stop Congressional 
Retirees Accessing Perks Act’’ or the ‘‘SCRAP Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROHIBITING PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES TO SUR-
VIVORS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 
(a) PROHIBITION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—No payment may be made 
from the applicable accounts of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the contingent fund of the Senate, or 
any other appropriated funds for a death gratuity 
payment to the widow, widower, or heirs-at-law of 
any Member of Congress who dies after the com-
mencement of the Congress to which the Member 
has been elected. 
(2) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Speaker and the 
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives 
may jointly, on a case-by-case basis, grant a waiver 
of paragraph (1) with respect to the payment of a 
death gratuity described in such paragraph. 
(b) NO EFFECT
ON OTHER PAYMENTS
TO SUR-
VIVORS.—Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to 
prohibit or affect the payment to any individual of any 
unpaid balance or salary or other sums due to a Member 
of Congress who dies after the commencement of the Con-
gress to which the Member has been elected. 
(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, a 
‘‘Member of Congress’’ means a Senator or a Representa-
tive in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Con-
gress. 
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(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to any death occurring during the One Hundred 
Seventeenth Congress or any succeeding Congress. 
SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF BENEFITS UNDER FEDERAL RE-
TIREMENT PROGRAMS. 
(a) TERMINATION OF RETIREMENT COVERAGE OF 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS UNDER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ 
RETIREMENT SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 84 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by insert-
ing after section 8425 the following: 
‘‘§ 8425a. Termination of further retirement coverage 
of Members of Congress 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of this chapter, effective as of the first day of the 
One Hundred Seventeenth Congress— 
‘‘(1) in the case of an individual who first be-
comes a Member before such day and who, on such 
first day, has served as a Member for a period of 10 
years (consecutively or nonconsecutively) or less— 
‘‘(A) such Member shall not be subject to 
this chapter for any further period of time after 
such day; and 
‘‘(B) no further Government contributions 
or deductions from basic pay may be made with 
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respect to such Member for deposit in the 
Treasury of the United States to the credit of 
the Fund; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of an individual who first be-
comes a Member on or after such day— 
‘‘(A) such Member shall not be subject to 
this chapter; and 
‘‘(B) no Government contributions or de-
ductions from basic pay may be made with re-
spect to such Member for deposit in the Treas-
ury of the United States to the credit of the 
Fund. 
‘‘(b) PRIOR RIGHTS NOT AFFECTED.—Nothing in 
subsection (a) shall be considered to nullify, modify, or 
otherwise affect any right, entitlement, or benefit under 
this chapter with respect to any Member covering any pe-
riod prior to the first day of the One Hundred Seventeenth 
Congress. 
‘‘(c) RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THRIFT SAVINGS 
PLAN NOT AFFECTED.—Nothing in subsection (a) or (b) 
shall affect the eligibility of a Member to participate in 
the Thrift Savings Plan in accordance with otherwise ap-
plicable provisions of law. 
‘‘(d) REGULATIONS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any regulations necessary 
to carry out this section may— 
‘‘(A) except with respect to matters under 
subparagraph (B), be prescribed by the Direc-
tor of the Office of Personnel Management; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to matters relating to 
the Thrift Savings Plan, be prescribed by the 
Executive Director (as defined by section 
8401(13)). 
‘‘(2) REFUNDS.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(b), the regulations under paragraph (1)(A) shall, in 
the case of a Member who has not completed at 
least 5 years of civilian service as of the first day 
of the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, provide 
that the lump-sum credit shall be payable to such 
Member to the same extent and in the same manner 
as if such Member satisfied paragraphs (1) through 
(4) of section 8424(a) as of such day. 
‘‘(e) EXCLUSIONS.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘Member’ does not include the Vice President.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of chapter 84 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 8425 the following: 
‘‘8425a. Termination of further retirement coverage of Members of Congress.’’. 
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