[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 24, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 551--PROVIDING THAT THE SALARIES OF SENATORS SHALL BE 
      HELD IN ESCROW UNTIL THE SENATE HAS PASSED LEGISLATION THAT 
             APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSES THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

  Ms. McSALLY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 551

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. NO COVID-19 RELIEF, NO PAY.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``covered period'' means the period beginning 
     March 25, 2020, and ending on the earlier of--
       (A) the date that the Senate passes COVID-19 relief 
     legislation; or
       (B) the last day of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress;
       (2) the term ``COVID-19 relief legislation'' means 
     legislation that the Majority Leader of the Senate determines 
     appropriately addresses the COVID-19 outbreak; and
       (3) the term ``Secretary of the Senate'' means the 
     Secretary of the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the 
     Secretary of the Senate who is designated by the Secretary to 
     carry out this resolution.
       (b) In General.--
       (1) Deadline for passing covid-19 relief legislation.--If, 
     by March 24, 2020, the Senate does not pass COVID-19 relief 
     legislation, then, for the duration of the covered period, 
     the Secretary of the Senate shall--
       (A) deposit in an escrow account all payments otherwise 
     required to be made during the covered period for the 
     compensation of the Senators; and
       (B) release amounts deposited in an escrow account under 
     subparagraph (A) to the Senator only upon the expiration of 
     the end of the covered period.
       (2) Withholding and remittance of amounts from payments 
     held in escrow.--The Secretary of the Senate shall provide 
     for the same withholding and remittance with respect to a 
     payment deposited in an escrow account under paragraph (1) 
     that would apply to the payment if the payment were not 
     subject to paragraph (1).
       (3) Release of amounts at end of the congress.--In order to 
     ensure that this section is carried out in a manner that 
     shall not vary the compensation of Senators in violation of 
     the twenty-seventh article of amendment to the Constitution 
     of the United States, the Secretary of the Senate shall 
     release for payments to Senators any amounts remaining in any 
     escrow account under this section on the last day of the One 
     Hundred Sixteenth Congress.
       (4) Role of secretary of the treasury.--The Secretary of 
     the Treasury shall provide the Secretary of the Senate with 
     such assistance as may be necessary to enable the Secretary 
     of the Senate to carry out this section.
       (c) Notification.--The Majority Leader of the Senate 
     shall--
       (1) upon the date of enactment of this resolution, inform 
     the Secretary of the Senate that the provisions of subsection 
     (b) are in effect; and
       (2) notify the Secretary of the Senate when the Senate has 
     passed COVID-19 relief legislation and the covered period has 
     ended.

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