2 USC 4501 - Compensation of Members of Congress

Collapse to view only § 4501. Compensation of Members of Congress

§ 4501. Compensation of Members of Congress
§ 4502. Appropriation of funds for compensation of Members of Congress and for administrative expenses at levels authorized by law and recommended by the President for Federal employees
§ 4503. Jury and witness service by Senate and House employees
§ 4504. Nonpay status for Congressional employees studying under Congressional staff fellowships
§ 4505. Voluntary separation incentive payments
§ 4506. Death gratuity payments as gifts
§ 4507. Longevity compensation
§ 4508. Longevity compensation for telephone operators on United States telephone exchange and members of Capitol Police paid by Chief Administrative Officer of House
§ 4509. Longevity compensation not applicable to individuals paid by Secretary of Senate; savings provision

§ 4501. Compensation of Members of Congress

(1) The annual rate of pay for—

(A) each Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, and Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico,

(B) the President pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate, and the majority leader and the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and

shall be the rate determined for such positions under chapter 11 of this title, as adjusted by paragraph (2) of this section.

(2)

(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), effective at the beginning of the first applicable pay period commencing on or after the first day of the month in which an adjustment takes effect under section 5303 of title 5 in the rates of pay under the General Schedule, each annual rate referred to in paragraph (1) shall be adjusted by an amount, rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 (or if midway between multiples of $100, to the next higher multiple of $100), equal to the percentage of such annual rate which corresponds to the most recent percentage change in the ECI (relative to the date described in the next sentence), as determined under section 704(a)(1) of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989. The appropriate date under this sentence is the first day of the fiscal year in which such adjustment in the rates of pay under the General Schedule takes effect.

(B) In no event shall the percentage adjustment taking effect under subparagraph (A) in any calendar year (before rounding), in any rate of pay, exceed the percentage adjustment taking effect in such calendar year under section 5303 of title 5 in the rates of pay under the General Schedule.

(Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, title VI, § 601(a), 60 Stat. 850; Jan. 19, 1949, ch. 2, § 1(d), 63 Stat. 4; Mar. 2, 1955, ch. 9, § 4(a), 69 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 88–426, title II, § 204, Aug. 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 415; Pub. L. 89–301, § 11(e), Oct. 29, 1965, 79 Stat. 1120; Pub. L. 91–67, § 2, Sept. 15, 1969, 83 Stat. 107; Pub. L. 94–82, title II, § 204(a), Aug. 9, 1975, 89 Stat. 421; Pub. L. 101–194, title VII, § 704(a)(2)(B), Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1769; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title I, § 101(b)(4)(D)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1439; Pub. L. 103–356, title I, § 101(1), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3410.)

§ 4502. Appropriation of funds for compensation of Members of Congress and for administrative expenses at levels authorized by law and recommended by the President for Federal employees

Effective beginning with fiscal year 1983, and continuing each year thereafter, such sums as hereafter may be necessary for “Compensation of Members” (and administrative expenses related thereto), as authorized by law and at such level recommended by the President for Federal employees for that fiscal year are hereby appropriated from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Such sums when paid shall be in lieu of any sums accrued in prior years but not paid. For purposes of this subsection, the term “Member” means each Member of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, the Delegates from the District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, and the Vice President.

(Pub. L. 97–51, § 130(c), Oct. 1, 1981, 95 Stat. 966.)

§ 4503. Jury and witness service by Senate and House employees

(a) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section—

(1) “employee” means any individual whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives; and

(2) “court of the United States” has the meaning given it by section 451 of title 28 and includes the United States District Court for the District of the Canal Zone, the District Court of Guam, and the District Court of the Virgin Islands.

(b) Service as juror or witness in connection with a judicial proceeding; prohibition against reduction of payThe pay of an employee shall not be reduced during a period of absence with respect to which the employee is summoned (and permitted to respond to such summons by the appropriate authority of the House of the Congress disbursing his pay), in connection with a judicial proceeding by a court or authority responsible for the conduct of that proceeding, to serve—

(1) as a juror; or

(2) other than as provided in subsection (c) of this section, as a witness on behalf of any party in connection with any judicial proceeding to which the United States, the District of Columbia, or a State or local government is a party;

in the District of Columbia, a State, territory, or possession of the United States including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. For purposes of this subsection, “judicial proceeding” means any action, suit, or other judicial proceeding, including any condemnation, preliminary, informational, or other proceeding of a judicial nature, but does not include an administrative proceeding.

(c) Official dutyAn employee is performing official duty during the period with respect to which he is summoned (and is authorized to respond to such summons by the House of the Congress disbursing his pay), or is assigned by such House, to—

(1) testify or produce official records on behalf of the United States or the District of Columbia; or

(2) testify in his official capacity or produce official records on behalf of a party other than the United States or the District of Columbia.

(d) Prohibition on receipt of jury or witness fees

(1) An employee may not receive fees for service—

(A) as juror in a court of the United States or the District of Columbia; or

(B) as a witness on behalf of the United States or the District of Columbia.

(2) If an employee receives an amount (other than travel expenses) for service as a juror or witness during a period in which his pay may not be reduced under subsection (b) of this section, or for which he is performing official duty under subsection (c) of this section, the employee shall remit such amount to the officer who disburses the pay of the employee, which amount shall be covered into the general fund of the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

(e) Travel expenses

(1) An employee summoned (and authorized to respond to such summons by the House of the Congress disbursing his pay), or assigned by such House, to testify or produce official records on behalf of the United States is entitled to travel expenses. If the case involves an activity in connection with which he is employed, the travel expenses shall be paid from funds otherwise available for the payment of travel expenses of such House in accordance with travel regulations of that House. If the case does not involve such an activity, the department, agency, or independent establishment of the United States on whose behalf he is so testifying or producing records shall pay to the employee his travel expenses out of appropriations otherwise available, and in accordance with regulation applicable, to that department, agency, or independent establishment for the payment of travel expenses.

(2) An employee summoned (and permitted to respond to such summons by the House of the Congress disbursing his pay), or assigned by such House, to testify in his official capacity or produce official records on behalf of a party other than the United States, is entitled to travel expenses, unless any travel expenses are paid to the employee for his appearance by the court, authority, or party which caused him to be summoned.

(f) Rules and regulations

(g) Congressional consent not conferred for production of official records or to testimony concerning activities related to employment

(Pub. L. 91–563, § 6, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1478; Pub. L. 94–310, § 2, June 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 687; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 204(74), (75), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1741.)

§ 4504. Nonpay status for Congressional employees studying under Congressional staff fellowships

(a) With respect to each employee of the Senate or House of Representatives—

(1) whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, and

(2) who, on or after January 1, 1963 shall have been separated from employment with the Senate or House of Representatives in order to pursue certain studies under a congressional staff fellowship awarded by the American Political Science Association,

the period of time covered by such fellowship shall be held and considered to be service (in a nonpay status) in employment with the Senate or House of Representatives, as the case may be, at the rate of compensation received immediately prior to separation (including any increases in compensation provided by law during the period covered by such fellowship) for the purposes of the provisions of law specified in subsection (b), if the award of such fellowship to such employee is certified to the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, by the appointing authority concerned or, in the event of the death or disability of such appointing authority, is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives by records or other evidence.

(b) The provisions of law referred to in subsection (a) are—

(1) subchapter III (relating to civil service retirement) of chapter 83 of title 5;

(2) chapter 87 (relating to Federal employees group life insurance) of title 5; and

(3) chapter 89 (relating to Federal employees group health insurance) of title 5.

(Pub. L. 89–379, Mar. 30, 1966, 80 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 204(73), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1741.)

§ 4505. Voluntary separation incentive payments

(a) Authority to offer payments

(b) Amount and administration of paymentsA voluntary separation incentive payment made under this section—

(1) shall be paid in a lump sum after the employee’s separation;

(2) shall be equal to the lesser of—

(A) an amount equal to the amount the employee would be entitled to receive under section 5595(c) of title 5, if the employee were entitled to payment under such section (without adjustment for any previous payment made); or

(B) an amount determined by the head of the office involved, not to exceed $25,000;

(3) may be made only in the case of an employee who voluntarily separates (whether by retirement or resignation) under this section;

(4) shall not be a basis for payment, and shall not be included in the computation, of any other type of Government benefit;

(5) shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any severance pay to which the employee may be entitled under section 5595 of title 5 based on any other separation; and

(6) shall be paid from appropriations or funds available for the payment of the basic pay of the employee.

(1) Plan required for making payments

(2) Contents of planA plan described in this paragraph with respect to an office is a plan containing the following information:

(A) The specific positions and functions to be reduced or eliminated.

(B) A description of which categories of employees will be offered incentives.

(D) The number and amounts of voluntary separation incentive payments to be offered.

(E) A description of how the office will operate without the eliminated positions and functions.

(3) Applicable committee

(d) Repealed. Pub. L. 112–74, div. G, title I, § 1401(a)(1), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1134

(e) Eligible employee defined

(1) In generalIn this section, an “eligible employee” is an employee (as defined in section 2105,1

1 So in original. Probably should be “2105 of title 5,”.

United States Code) or a Congressional employee (as defined in section 2107,2

2 So in original. Probably should be “2107 of title 5,”.

United States Code) who—

(A) is serving under an appointment without time limitation; and

(B) has been currently employed for a continuous period of at least 3 years.

(2) ExclusionsAn “eligible employee” does not include any of the following:

(A) A reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or another retirement system for employees of the Government.

(B) An employee having a disability on the basis of which such employee is or would be eligible for disability retirement under subchapter III of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or another retirement system for employees of the Government.

(C) An employee who is in receipt of a decision notice of involuntary separation for misconduct or unacceptable performance.

(D) An employee who has previously received any voluntary separation incentive payment from the Federal Government under this section or any other authority.

(E) An employee covered by statutory reemployment rights who is on transfer employment with another organization.

(F) Any employee who—

(i) during the 36-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a student loan repayment benefit was or is to be paid under section 5379 of title 5 or any other authority;

(ii) during the 24-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a recruitment or relocation bonus was or is to be paid under section 5753 of such title or any other authority; or

(iii) during the 12-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a retention bonus was or is to be paid under section 5754 of such title or any other authority.

(f) Repayment for individuals returning to Government employment

(1) In general

(2) Waiver for individuals possessing unique abilities

(A) If the employment is with an Executive agency (as defined by section 105 of title 5, but excluding the Government Accountability Office), the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may, at the request of the head of the agency, waive the repayment required under this subsection if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.

(B) If the employment is with an entity in the legislative branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official may waive the repayment required under this subsection if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.

(C) If the employment is with the judicial branch, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may waive the repayment required under this subsection if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.

(3) Treatment of personal services contracts

(g) Effective date

(Pub. L. 108–447, div. G, title II, § 210, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3194; Pub. L. 112–74, div. G, title I, § 1401(a), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1134.)

§ 4506. Death gratuity payments as gifts

Any death gratuity payment at any time specifically appropriated by any Act of Congress or at any time made out of the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives or the contingent fund of the Senate shall be held to have been a gift.

(June 5, 1952, ch. 369, Ch. I, 66 Stat. 101; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 203(6), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1725.)

§ 4507. Longevity compensation

(a) Eligible employeesThis section shall apply 1

1 See Inapplicability of Section to Certain Employees note below.

to—

(1) each employee of the Senate whose compensation is paid from the appropriation for Salaries, Officers and Employees under the following headings:

(A) Office of the Secretary, including individuals employed under authority of section 6538 of this title;

(B) Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, except employees designated as “special employees”; and

(2) each employee of the Senate authorized by Senate resolution to be appointed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, except employees designated as “special employees”; and

(3) each employee of the Capitol Guide Service established under section 2166 2

2 See References in Text note below.

of this title.

(b) Rate of compensation; limitation on increases; computation of service; effective date of payment

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), an employee to whom this section applies shall be paid, during any period of continuous creditable service, additional annual compensation (hereinafter referred to as “longevity compensation”) at the rate of $482 for (A) each year of creditable service performed for the first five years and (B) each two years of creditable service performed during the twenty-year period following the first five years.

(2) The amount of longevity compensation which may be paid to an employee, when added to his regular annual compensation, shall not exceed the maximum annual compensation which may be paid to Senate employees generally as prescribed by law or orders of the President pro tempore issued under authority of section 4571 of this title.

(3) For purposes of this section—

(A) creditable service includes (i) service performed as an employee described in subsection (a), (ii) service performed as a member of the Capitol Police or as an employee of the United States Capitol Telephone Exchange while compensation therefor is disbursed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and (iii) service which is creditable for purposes of this section as in effect on September 30, 1978;

(B) in computing length of continuous creditable service, only creditable service performed subsequent to August 31, 1957, shall be taken into account, except that, in the case of service as an employee employed under authority of section 6538 of this title, only creditable service performed subsequent to January 2, 1971, shall be taken into account; and

(C) continuity of creditable service shall not be deemed to be broken by separations from service of not more than thirty days, by the performance of service as an employee (other than an employee subject to the provisions of this section) whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, or by the performance of active military service in the armed forces of the United States, but periods of such separations and service shall not be creditable service.

(4) Longevity compensation shall be payable on and after the first day of the first month following completion of each period of creditable service upon which such compensation is based.

(Pub. L. 87–730, § 106(a), (b), (d), Oct. 2, 1962, 76 Stat. 694, 695; Pub. L. 88–454, § 104(b), Aug. 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 550; Pub. L. 90–57, § 105(g), July 28, 1967, 81 Stat. 143; Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 214(n), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 637; Pub. L. 91–656, § 4, Jan. 8, 1971, 84 Stat. 1952; Pub. L. 93–371, Aug. 13, 1974, 88 Stat. 436; Pub. L. 95–240, title II, § 205, Mar. 7, 1978, 92 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 95–391, title I, § 110(a), Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 774; Pub. L. 96–304, title I, § 107(b), July 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 890.)

§ 4508. Longevity compensation for telephone operators on United States telephone exchange and members of Capitol Police paid by Chief Administrative Officer of House

The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 4507 1

1 See Inapplicability of Section 4507 to Certain Employees note below.

of this title (as amended by section 110 of Pub. L. 95–391), shall apply to telephone operators (including the chief operator and assistant chief operators) on the United States Capitol telephone exchange and members of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives in the same manner and to the same extent as such provisions apply to individuals whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. For purposes of so applying such subsections, creditable service shall include service performed as an employee of the United States Capitol telephone exchange or a member of the Capitol Police whether compensation therefor is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 95–391, title III, § 310, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 790; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 204(8), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1731.)

§ 4509. Longevity compensation not applicable to individuals paid by Secretary of Senate; savings provision

Section 4507 of this title on or after October 1, 1983 shall not apply to any individual whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate; except that, any individual who prior to such date was entitled to longevity compensation under such section on the basis of service performed prior to such date shall continue to be entitled to such compensation, but no individual shall accrue any longevity compensation on the basis of service performed on or after such date.

(Pub. L. 98–51, title I, § 107, July 14, 1983, 97 Stat. 267.)