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106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 96
To limit the duration of certain benefits afforded to former Presidents, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. COBLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Government Re-
form, 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 limit the duration of certain benefits afforded to former
Presidents, 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. LIMITATIONS RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY OF A
FORMER PRESIDENT FOR OFFICE SPACE AND
A MONETARY ALLOWANCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The first section of the Act enti-
tled ‘‘An Act to provide retirement, clerical assistants, and
free mailing privileges to former Presidents of the United
States, and for other purposes’’, approved August 25,
1958 (3 U.S.C. 102 note) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(a) Each’’ and inserting
‘‘(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2),
each’’;
(B) by striking the second sentence; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) An allowance under this subsection shall not be
payable—
‘‘(A) for any period during which the former
President holds an appointive or elective office or
position in or under the Federal Government or the
government of the District of Columbia to which is
attached a rate of pay other than a nominal rate;
‘‘(B) for any month if such former President
has not attained retirement age (within the meaning
of section 216(l)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 416(l)(1)) before the start of such month; or
‘‘(C) in the case of a former President other-
wise entitled to any other annuity or pension under
any other Act of Congress (excluding a survivor ben-
efit and any benefit under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act), unless such former President waives
the right to each such other annuity or pension.’’;
and
(2) by repealing subsection (c).
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall take effect as of the first day of the
first month beginning after the end of the 6–month period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 2. PROVISIONS RELATING TO SECRET SERVICE PRO-
TECTION FOR A FORMER PRESIDENT OR
MEMBER OF THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF A
FORMER PRESIDENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3056(a) of title 18,
United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(3) Former Presidents, for the 1-year period
immediately following the termination date of the
person’s service as President.’’; and
(2) by striking paragraph (4).
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROVISIONS OF
LAW.—For purposes of sections 879 and 1752 of title 18,
United States Code—
(1) a former President shall, after the end of
the 1-year period referred to in section 3056(a)(3)
of such title (as amended by subsection (a)(1)), be
deemed to be a person under Secret Service protec-
tion; and
(2) children of a former President who are
under 16 years of age, and a spouse of a former
President (except a spouse who is otherwise ineli-
gible for Secret Service protection by reason of
remarriage), shall be deemed to be persons under
Secret Service protection;
unless such person did not have Secret Service protection,
as of the date such person was last eligible therefor, by
reason of a declination of protection made by such person.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act, except that the enactment of this section shall
not have the effect of terminating Secret Service protec-
tion for any person before—
(1) the expiration of the 6–month period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act; or
(2) such person has received (or been eligible to
receive) Secret Service protection as a former Presi-
dent, or the spouse or a child of a former President,
as the case may be, for at least 12 months after the
termination date of such former President’s service.
(d) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘Secret Service’’ means the United States Secret
Service, the Department of the Treasury.
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