[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 3 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.J.Res.3

                      One Hundred Eleventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
             the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine


                            Joint Resolution


 
  Ensuring that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the 
 office of Secretary of the Interior are those which were in effect on 
                            January 1, 2005.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COMPENSATION AND OTHER EMOLUMENTS ATTACHED TO THE OFFICE OF 
              SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

    (a) In General.--The compensation and other emoluments attached to 
the office of Secretary of the Interior shall be those in effect 
January 1, 2005, notwithstanding any increase in such compensation or 
emoluments after that date under any provision of law, or provision 
which has the force and effect of law, that is enacted or becomes 
effective during the period beginning at noon of January 3, 2005, and 
ending at noon of January 3, 2011.
    (b) Civil Action and Appeal.--
        (1) Jurisdiction.--Any person aggrieved by an action of the 
    Secretary of the Interior may bring a civil action in the United 
    States District Court for the District of Columbia to contest the 
    constitutionality of the appointment and continuance in office of 
    the Secretary of the Interior on the ground that such appointment 
    and continuance in office is in violation of article I, section 6, 
    clause 2, of the Constitution. The United States District Court for 
    the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over 
    such a civil action, without regard to the sum or value of the 
    matter in controversy.
        (2) Three judge panel.--Any claim challenging the 
    constitutionality of the appointment and continuance in office of 
    the Secretary of the Interior on the ground that such appointment 
    and continuance in office is in violation of article I, section 6, 
    clause 2, of the Constitution, in an action brought under paragraph 
    (1) shall be heard and determined by a panel of three judges in 
    accordance with section 2284 of title 28, United States Code. It 
    shall be the duty of the district court to advance on the docket 
    and to expedite the disposition of any matter brought under this 
    subsection.
        (3) Appeal.--
            (A) Direct appeal to supreme court.--An appeal may be taken 
        directly to the Supreme Court of the United States from any 
        interlocutory or final judgment, decree, or order upon the 
        validity of the appointment and continuance in office of the 
        Secretary of the Interior under article I, section 6, clause 2, 
        of the Constitution, entered in any action brought under this 
        subsection. Any such appeal shall be taken by a notice of 
        appeal filed within 20 days after such judgment, decree, or 
        order is entered.
            (B) Jurisdiction.--The Supreme Court shall, if it has not 
        previously ruled on the question presented by an appeal taken 
        under subparagraph (A), accept jurisdiction over the appeal, 
        advance the appeal on the docket, and expedite the appeal.
    (c) Effective Date.--This joint resolution shall take effect at 
12:00 p.m. on January 20, 2009.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.