[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LET'S SHOW THE PUBLIC WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT REDUCING THE SIZE OF FEDERAL 
           SPENDING: REFORM OUR CONGRESSIONAL PENSION SYSTEM

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                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 1997

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced a bill to reform the 
pension system for Members of Congress and their staff. My bill, the 
Congressional Pension Reform Act, will make the pension benefits for 
Members of Congress the same as other Federal employees.
  The Congressional Pension Reform Act of 1997 reduces the pension 
accrual rates for Members of Congress and their staff members. A 
pension accrual rate is the percentage of pre-retirement pay earned in 
pension benefits for each year of service. Under my bill, those 
congressional Members and staff who entered Federal service before 1984 
will have their accrual rates reduced from 2.5 percent to between 1.5 
and 2 percent, depending on how long a person has worked for the 
Federal Government. For Members and staff who began Federal service 
after 1984, their accrual rates are reduced from 1.7 percent to 1 or 
1.1 percent. These changes will save the taxpayers about $9 million 
over 6 years.
  As a member of the House Budget Committee, I realize that we as 
legislators have to make tough decisions which limit the size of our 
Federal Government. We need to shift responsibilities from a bloated 
Federal bureaucracy to families and local communities. I want to 
demonstrate to the people of Lancaster and Chester Counties that I will 
impose sacrifices upon myself and the rest of Congress which are 
similar to those we ask others to make.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that Members of Congress should be treated 
like every other Federal employee. By reforming our own pension plan, 
we can reduce the perks of elected office which have no place in our 
Federal Government and which shake the public's confidence.
  On January 30, I wrote to Budget Chairman John Kasich to urge that my 
provisions on congressional pension reform be included in the 
majority's balanced budget package. Further, I plan to have my bill 
included in the budget reconciliation bill so that our shared goals of 
reducing Government spending and reviving the public's trust in this 
body can become a reality. I thank the Speaker, and look forward to 
working with him to reform our pension system.

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