[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS PAY SEQUESTRATION AND 
                              FAIRNESS ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2013

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Member of 
Congress Pay Sequestration and Fairness Act, which would subject the 
pay of Members of the House and Senate to any future sequestration, or 
automatic, across-the-board spending cuts. While Members of Congress 
may differ on the merits of sequestration, once the cuts are a matter 
of law, Members should abide by the laws we impose on the American 
people. The most serious effects of these arbitrary, across-the-board 
cuts are being felt by the American people. For example, during the 
remainder of this fiscal year, as a result of sequestration cuts to 
Medicare, many cancer clinic patients will have to go to hospitals for 
outpatient chemotherapy at sharply higher costs, or face reduced access 
to treatment. More than a million federal employees may be furloughed, 
which will result in reduced pay. It is simply unfair for well-paid 
Members of Congress to subject federal employees, who not only usually 
earn considerably less but are now also in their third year of frozen 
wages, to pay cuts that Members are unwilling to take themselves.
  Under the 1985 law that established the sequestration process, the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (also known as the 
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), Congress expressly exempted certain federal 
programs, activities, and projects, including the President's pay, from 
sequestration. The pay of Members of Congress is not expressly exempt. 
Nevertheless, the Office of Management and Budget has interpreted the 
law to exempt the pay of Members. I would hope that today's Congress 
would revise the law. My bill would subject Member pay to any future 
sequestration implemented under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act, 
including the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the Statutory Pay-As-You-
Go Act of 2010. In order to comply with the 27th Amendment of the U.S. 
Constitution, which prohibits changes to Member pay until an 
intervening election, this bill would take effect next Congress.
  I ask my colleagues to follow the example we set for ourselves when, 
in passing the Congressional Accountability Act, we pledged that the 
laws that apply to the American people would also apply to Members of 
Congress.

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