[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 121 (Friday, September 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JO ANN DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2989) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Transportation and 
     Treasury, and independent agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2004, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my 
opposition to an increase in Member's of Congress salaries. During 
these difficult economic times at all levels of government and with 
increasing federal deficits, I believe we should not be raising our own 
salaries.
  Yesterday the House considered the Rule for the Transportation and 
Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 2004. 
While this bill does not include any provision related to an increase 
in pay for Members of Congress (the Member COLA is automatic each year 
under existing law), by tradition when Congress has blocked the Member 
COLA, the blocking provision has been included in this bill.
  Because blocking the Member COLA would constitute a change in 
existing law, an amendment to block the COLA would be subject to a 
point of order on the floor, and therefore not allowed. Since the Rule 
does not permit a waiver from the point of order for such an amendment, 
the House in recent years has taken a vote on the previous question on 
the Rule. Yesterday I voted ``no'' on the previous question in an 
attempt to defeat the measure so that an amendment to the Rule to block 
the Member cost-of-living allowance could receive an up or down vote.
  Unfortunately, the measure passed and the rule was not therefore 
amendable. In light of various factors, most importantly a 4.1 percent 
pay raise for our civilian workforce and to remove Ghost Fleet ships in 
my District, I am left with no recourse except to vote for the final 
passage of the Transportation/Treasury Appropriations Act. If I had the 
opportunity to vote directly to eliminate this year's cost of living 
adjustments for Members, I would most certainly do so.

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