[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            REFORM THE LAVISH CONGRESSIONAL PENSION PROGRAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I come to the well of the House today to 
invite support of my bill, H.R. 2357, which addresses the congressional 
pension program.
  The congressional pension program becomes vested after 5 years of 
service, Madam Speaker. I claim to be no expert on pensions, but I know 
of no pension that vests after 5 years. This would involve a Member to 
serve not even three complete House terms and not even one complete 
Senate term.
  My bill would increase the timeframe from 5 years, presently, to 12 
years. At least if my bill became law, a Member would be required to 
serve six full House terms, two full Senate terms, or a combination 
thereto.
  I am disappointed to say, Madam Speaker, that my bill has attracted 
zero cosponsors, and it has been surfacing for several days now. I am 
here today to invite every Member of the people's House to warmly 
embrace and support this bill. You should do so for two reasons:
  Number one, it will result in reduced public spending;
  Number two, it would send a message back to our constituents that we 
are willing and able to reduce our own perks and benefits.
  I urge every Member of the people's House to come forward, Madam 
Speaker, and sign his or her name to this bill, and we will go down the 
path of fiscal sanity and fiscal responsibility before it is too late.

                          ____________________