[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S727-S729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself and Mr. Allard):
  S. 205. A bill to eliminate certain benefits for Members of Congress, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.


                        THE CITIZEN CONGRESS ACT

 Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I introduce the Citizen Congress 
Act, a bill that ends many of the perks and privileges that separate 
Members of Congress from the American people.
  Our Founding Fathers envisioned a Congress of citizen legislators who 
would leave their families and communities for a short time to write 
legislation and then return home to live under the laws they helped to 
pass. Unfortunately, we have strayed far from that vision. A strong 
perception exists among the American people that elected officials in 
Washington have placed themselves above the laws and separated 
themselves from the public with perks and privileges. Enacting term 
limits would be the best way to re-create a citizen legislature, and I 
remain committed to passing a term limits amendment to the 
Constitution. In the meantime, reforming congressional pensions, pay, 
and perks offers an immediately achievable step toward making Congress 
more directly responsible and accountable to the American people.
  When I was elected to the U.S. Senate a little more than 2 years ago, 
voters placed their trust in me to help change the way the U.S. 
Congress does business. With passage of the Congressional 
Accountability Act and tough lobbying reform in the last Congress, we 
have begun serious, bipartisan reform efforts. But we cannot afford to 
stop there.
  Congressional perks and privileges are not limited to gifts from 
lobbyists and exemptions from certain laws. In fact, most people would 
be surprised--even shocked--to know that Members of Congress can 
receive free health care from military hospitals or that they receive 
automatic cost-of-living adjustments [COLA's] for their salaries and 
pensions. We must address these issues as well. To continue building 
confidence in our Government, we must continue building confidence in 
the people who serve there.
  Today, I join my colleague from Colorado, Senator Wayne Allard, in 
reintroducing a comprehensive congressional reform bill. The 
legislation, entitled the Citizen Congress Act, will help restore faith 
and trust in our Government by attacking the ``10 Pillars of Perkdom.'' 
The 10 Pillars include:
  Eliminating the taxpayer subsidy of congressional pensions.
  Eliminating automatic cost-of-living adjustments for congressional 
pensions.
  Eliminating automatic pay raises for Members of Congress.
  Requiring a rollcall vote for any pay raise.
  Requiring public disclosure of all Members' Federal retirement 
benefits.
  Banning personal use of officially accrued frequent flier miles.
  Banning taxpayer-financed mass mailings.
  Restricting use of military aircraft by Members of Congress.
  Prohibiting free treatment at military medical facilities.
  Banning special parking privileges at Washington-area airports.
  A companion bill, H.R. 436, was introduced in the House of 
Representatives by Congressman Mark Sanford.
  At a time when everyone is tightening their belts to balance the 
Federal budget and restore confidence in our Government, it is only 
right that Members of Congress eliminate the perks and privileges that 
are not necessary to conduct congressional business. The Citizen 
Congress Act launches the next stage of Government reform by focusing 
on the Members of Congress themselves. I encourage my colleagues to 
join me in passing this important legislation and bringing Congress 
another step closer to the American people.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 205

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Citizen Congress Act''.

     SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON RETIREMENT COVERAGE FOR MEMBERS OF 
                   CONGRESS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, effective at the beginning of the Congress next 
     beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, a 
     Member of Congress shall be ineligible to participate in the 
     Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees' 
     Retirement System, except as otherwise provided under this 
     section.
       (b) Participation in the Thrift Savings Plan.--
     Notwithstanding subsection (a), a Member may participate in 
     the Thrift Savings Plan subject to section 8351 of title 5, 
     United States Code, at anytime during the 12-year period 
     beginning on the date the Member begins his or her first 
     term.
       (c) Refunds of Contributions.--
       (1) In general.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall prevent 
     refunds from being made, in accordance with otherwise 
     applicable provisions of law (including those relating to the 
     Thrift Savings Plan), on account of an individual's becoming 
     ineligible to participate in the Civil Service Retirement 
     System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System (as the 
     case may be) as a result of the enactment of this section.
       (2) Treatment of refund.--For purposes of any refund 
     referred to in paragraph (1), a Member who so becomes 
     ineligible to participate in either of the retirement systems 
     referred to in paragraph (1) shall be treated in the same way 
     as if separated from service.
       (d) Annuities Not Affected to the Extent Based on Prior 
     Service.--Subsection (a) shall not be considered to affect--
       (1) any annuity (or other benefit) entitlement to which is 
     based on a separation from service occurring before the date 
     of the enactment of this Act (including any survivor annuity 
     based on the death of the individual who so separated); or
       (2) any other annuity (or benefit), to the extent provided 
     under subsection (e).
       (e) Preservations of Rights Based on Prior Service.--
       (1) In general.--For purposes of determining eligibility 
     for, or the amount of, any annuity (or other benefit) 
     referred to in subsection (d)(2) based on service as a Member 
     of Congress--
       (A) all service as a Member of Congress shall be 
     disregarded except for any such service performed before the 
     date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (B) all pay for service performed as a Member of Congress 
     shall be disregarded other than pay for service which may be 
     taken into account under subparagraph (A).
       (2) Preservation of rights.--To the extent practicable, 
     eligibility for, and the amount of, any annuity (or other 
     benefit) to which an individual is entitled based on a 
     separation of a Member of Congress occurring after such 
     Member becomes ineligible to participate in the Civil Service 
     Retirement System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System 
     (as the case may be) by reason of subsection (a) shall be 
     determined in a manner that preserves any rights to which the 
     Member would have been entitled, as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, had separation occurred on such date.
       (f) Regulations.--Any regulations necessary to carry out 
     this section may be prescribed by the Office of Personnel 
     Management and the Executive Director (referred to in section 
     8401(13) of title 5, United States Code) with respect to 
     matters within their respective areas of responsibility.
       (g) Definition.--As used in this section, the terms 
     ``Member of Congress'' and ``Member'' mean any individual 
     under section 8331(2) or 8401(20) of title 5, United States 
     Code.
       (h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     considered to apply with respect to any savings plan or other 
     matter outside of subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 
     of title 5, United States Code.

     SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE OF ESTIMATES OF FEDERAL RETIREMENT 
                   BENEFITS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

       (a) In General.--Section 105(a) of the Legislative Branch 
     Appropriations Act, 1965 (2 U.S.C. 104a; Public Law 88-454; 
     78 Stat. 550) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(4) The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the 
     House of Representatives shall include in each report 
     submitted under paragraph (1), with respect to Members of 
     Congress, as applicable--
       ``(A) the total amount of individual contributions made by 
     each Member to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability 
     Fund and the Thrift Savings Fund under chapters 83 and 84 of 
     title 5, United States Code, for all Federal service 
     performed by the Member as a Member of Congress and as a 
     Federal employee;
       ``(B) an estimate of the annuity each Member would be 
     entitled to receive under chapters 83 and 84 of such title 
     based on the earliest possible date to receive annuity 
     payments by reason of retirement (other than disability 
     retirement) which begins after the date of expiration of the 
     term of office such Member is serving; and
       ``(C) any other information necessary to enable the public 
     to accurately compute the Federal retirement benefits of each 
     Member based on various assumptions of years of service and 
     age of separation from service by reason of retirement.''.

[[Page S728]]

       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. ELIMINATION OF AUTOMATIC ANNUITY ADJUSTMENTS FOR 
                   MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

       The portion of the annuity of a Member of Congress which is 
     based solely on service as a Member of Congress shall not be 
     subject to a COLA adjustment under section 8340 or 8462 of 
     title 5, United States Code.

     SEC. 5. ELIMINATION OF AUTOMATIC PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEMBERS 
                   OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Pay Adjustments.--Paragraph (2) of section 601(a) of 
     the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) is 
     repealed.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 601(a)(1) of such Act is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``(a)(1)'' and inserting ``(a)'';
       (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as 
     paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; and
       (3) by striking ``, as adjusted by paragraph (2) of this 
     subsection''.

     SEC. 6. ROLLCALL VOTE FOR ANY CONGRESSIONAL PAY RAISE.

       It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of 
     Representatives to dispose of any amendment, bill, 
     resolution, motion, or other matter relating to the pay of 
     Members of Congress unless the matter is decided by a 
     rollcall vote.

     SEC. 7. TRAVEL AWARDS FROM OFFICIAL TRAVEL OF A MEMBER, 
                   OFFICER, OR EMPLOYEE OF THE HOUSE OF 
                   REPRESENTATIVES TO BE USED ONLY WITH RESPECT TO 
                   OFFICIAL TRAVEL.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, or any rule, regulation, or other authority, any travel 
     award that accrues by reason of official travel of a Member, 
     officer, or employee of the House of Representatives may be 
     used only with respect to official travel.
       (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Oversight of the 
     House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe 
     regulations to carry out this section.
       (c) Definitions.--As used in this section--
       (1) the term ``travel award'' means any frequent flier 
     mileage, free travel, discounted travel, or other travel 
     benefit, whether awarded by coupon, membership, or otherwise; 
     and
       (2) the term ``official travel'' means, with respect to the 
     House of Representatives, travel performed for the conduct of 
     official business of the House of Representatives.

     SEC. 8. BAN ON MASS MAILINGS.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (6)(A) of section 3210(a) of 
     title 39, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(6)(A) It is the intent of Congress that a Member of, or 
     Member-elect to, Congress may not mail any mass mailing as 
     franked mail.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) The second sentence of section 3210(c) of title 39, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``subsection (a) 
     (4) and (5)'' and inserting ``subsection (a) (4), (5), and 
     (6)''.
       (2) Section 3210 of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(3)--
       (i) in subparagraph (G) by striking ``, including general 
     mass mailings,''; and
       (ii) in subparagraphs (I) and (J) by striking ``or other 
     general mass mailing'';
       (B) in subsection (a)(6) by repealing subparagraphs (B), 
     (C), and (F), and the second sentence of subparagraph (D);
       (C) by repealing paragraph (7) of subsection (a); and
       (D) by repealing subsection (f).
       (3) Section 316(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 1990 (39 U.S.C. 3210 note) is repealed.
       (4) Subsection (f) of section 311 of the Legislative Branch 
     Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59e(f)) is repealed.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect at the beginning of the Congress next 
     beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF MILITARY AIR COMMAND BY 
                   MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Restrictions.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 157 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 2646. Restrictions on provision of air transportation 
       to Members of Congress

       ``(a) Restrictions.--A Member of Congress may not receive 
     transportation in an aircraft of the Military Air Command 
     unless--
       ``(1) the transportation is provided on a space-available 
     basis as part of the scheduled operations of the military 
     aircraft unrelated to the provision of transportation to 
     Members of Congress;
       ``(2) the use of the military aircraft is necessary because 
     the destination of the Member of Congress, or an airfield 
     located within reasonable distance of the destination, is not 
     accessible by regularly scheduled flights of commercial 
     aircraft; or
       ``(3) the use of the military aircraft is the least 
     expensive method for the Member of Congress to reach the 
     destination by aircraft, as demonstrated by information 
     released before the trip by the member or committee of 
     Congress sponsoring the trip.
       ``(b) Destination.--In connection with transportation 
     provided under subsection (a)(1), the destination of the 
     military aircraft may not be selected to accommodate the 
     travel plans of the Member of Congress requesting such 
     transportation.
       ``(c) Aircraft Defined.--For purposes of this section, the 
     term `aircraft' includes both fixed-wing airplanes and 
     helicopters.''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
     sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

``2646. Restrictions on provision of air transportation to Members of 
              Congress.''.

       (b) Effect on Members Currently Receiving Transportation.--
     Section 2643 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a), shall not apply with respect to a Member of 
     Congress who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is 
     receiving air transportation or is scheduled to receive 
     transportation in an aircraft of the Military Air Command 
     until the Member completes the travel plans for which the 
     transportation is being provided or scheduled.

     SEC. 10. PROHIBITION ON USE OF MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT 
                   FACILITIES BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Prohibition.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 55 of title 10, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 1107. Prohibition on provision of medical and dental 
       care to Members of Congress

       ``A Member of Congress may not receive medical or dental 
     care in any facility of any uniformed service unless--
       ``(1) the Member of Congress is eligible or entitled to 
     such care as a member or former member of a uniformed service 
     or as a covered beneficiary; or
       ``(2) such care is provided on an emergency basis unrelated 
     to the person's status as a Member of Congress.''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
     sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

``1107. Prohibition on provision of medical and dental care to Members 
              of Congress.''.

       (b) Effect on Members Currently Receiving Care.--Section 
     1107 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a), shall not apply with respect to a Member of Congress who 
     is receiving medical or dental care in a facility of the 
     uniformed services on the date of the enactment of this Act 
     until the Member is discharged from that facility.

     SEC. 11. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN RESERVED PARKING AREAS AT 
                   WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT AND WASHINGTON 
                   DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

       (a) In General.--Effective 30 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this section, the Airports Authority--
       (1) shall not provide any reserved parking areas free of 
     charge to Members of Congress, other Government officials, or 
     diplomats at Washington National Airport or Washington Dulles 
     International Airport; and
       (2) shall establish a parking policy for such airports that 
     provides equal access to the public, and does not provide 
     preferential parking privileges to Members of Congress, other 
     Government officials, or diplomats.
       (b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the terms 
     ``Airports Authority'', ``Washington National Airport'', and 
     ``Washington Dulles International Airport'' have the same 
     meanings as in section 6004 of the Metropolitan Washington 
     Airports Act of 1986 (49 U.S.C. App. 2453).
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I am proud to be an original 
sponsor of the citizen Congress Act with my distinguished colleague 
from Tennessee, Senator Bill Frist. As a Member of the other body, I 
was an original sponsor of this bill with Representative Mark Sanford, 
who reintroduced the CCA earlier this month.
  This legislation is an important element of true political reform. A 
first step was the passage of the Congressional Accountability Act 
which applied labor laws to Congress. The next important step is the 
Citizen Congress Act. This act is to be a reminder to members of both 
legislative bodies that we are citizen legislators in the true sense of 
service as envisioned by our Founding Fathers.
  The CCA is a comprehensive bill which eliminates many of the perks 
and privileges which Congress are afforded. It uses the congressional 
pension system to encourage limited service and calls for full 
disclosure of estimates of our retirement benefits. It also eliminates 
the automatic COLA for Member's salaries. If we want a salary increase, 
we will have to vote for an increase. The CCA disallows any personal 
use of frequent flier mileage accrued on official business. This bill 
would limit the use of frequent flier miles for only trips to and from 
the Senator's State. The CCA also bans all postal patron franked 
mailings. This means no more unsolicited mailings to constituents.
  Also, Senators will no longer be able to travel on military aircraft, 
except where there is space available on already scheduled military 
flights or where there are no commercial flights to a specific 
destination. Members will

[[Page S729]]

no longer receive free medical attention at military hospitals unless 
they are veterans and can receive this medical benefit like any other 
veteran. Finally, the CAA eliminates special parking privileges for 
Members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices, and foreign diplomats at 
Washington National and Dulles airports.
  I believe this will make us more responsive to our constituents 
because no longer will we have the special privileges which citizens 
are not given. Legislators should have to walk in the same shoes as 
everyone else, thus making them more sensitive to the concerns and 
trials of the constituents which we are serving.
  Again, I thank Senator Frist for all his hard work and effort in this 
endeavor.
                                 ______