[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3877-H3878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1630
   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SALARY HOME RULE ACT

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1204) to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to 
permit the District of Columbia to establish the rate of pay of the 
Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1204

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Chief 
     Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act''.

     SEC. 2. PERMITTING DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO ESTABLISH RATE OF 
                   PAY OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF DISTRICT OF 
                   COLUMBIA.

       Section 424(b)(2)(E) of the District of Columbia Home Rule 
     Act (sec. 1-204.24b(b)(5), D.C. Official Code) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(E) Pay.--The Chief Financial Officer shall be paid at 
     the greater of--
       ``(i) a rate such that the total amount of compensation 
     paid during any calendar year is equal to the limit on total 
     pay which is applicable during the year under section 5307 of 
     title 5, United States Code, to an employee described in 
     section 5307(d) of such title; or
       ``(ii) a rate established in law by the District of 
     Columbia, except that any rate established under this clause 
     which is applicable to any individual serving as the Chief 
     Financial Officer shall not be reduced during any period of 
     the individual's service as Chief Financial Officer.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure before us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H3878]]

  Mr. Speaker, this bill will give the District of Columbia the 
authority to increase the pay of the D.C. chief financial officer. D.C. 
requested that I introduce this bill so that it can retain and recruit 
the best CFOs. At the outset, I want to emphasize that the CFO is paid 
exclusively with local D.C. funds, not Federal funds.
  Under the D.C. Home Rule Act, Congress established a maximum rate of 
pay for the CFO, and the D.C. council has no authority to increase that 
rate. Congress does not cap, or otherwise establish, the pay of any 
other D.C. employee. Under this bill, the CFO would be paid at the 
greater of a rate equal to the maximum rate of pay of the CFO in 
current law or at a rate established in law by the District of 
Columbia.
  The CFO was established by Congress in 1995. Congress vested the CFO 
with extraordinary powers and designed the CFO to be independent of the 
D.C. Mayor and council. The CFO may be removed only for cause by the 
Mayor, subject to the approval of two-thirds of the council and a 30-
day congressional review and comment period. This bill would maintain 
the independence of the CFO by establishing a permanent floor on the 
CFO's pay and by prohibiting the council from reducing the CFO's pay 
during the CFO's term.
  The D.C. CFO is unique in the United States. D.C. cannot obligate or 
expend funds without the CFO's certification that available funds 
exist. The CFO manages a $17 billion budget that consists of State, 
county, and city functions, and the CFO has more than 1,700 employees.
  D.C. is currently searching for a permanent CFO. Although the CFO is 
the most important non-elected official in the district, more than 20 
D.C. employees are paid more than the CFO. D.C. must compete with both 
the private and public sectors for high-quality CFOs, and there are 
many private- and public-sector CFOs who are paid more than the D.C. 
CFO.
  I thank Chairwoman Maloney for her support of this bill, and I thank 
Ranking Member Comer for his support of this bill in committee.
  This bill is critical to the financial operations of the District of 
Columbia. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the chief financial officer plays an essential role in 
managing the District of Columbia's financial challenges and should be 
properly compensated for such efforts.
  I understand some of my colleagues may be concerned about the 
financial health of the District of Columbia, and I share many of those 
concerns. But that is why we need to ensure the best people are 
selected to fill the CFO position.
  One way to attract the best candidates in a job search is by paying 
professionals a competitive salary. The CFO is responsible for the 
District's financial operations, including more than 1,700 staff 
members in the district's multi-billion-dollar budget.
  If the District believes that it needs to adjust the rate of pay for 
this position to recruit a more qualified senior financial management 
official, then Congress should support such efforts.
  I believe compensation for local executives is a matter best handled 
at the local level, and I believe this bill balances local autonomy 
with a commonsense solution for attracting talent to the District.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, because I believe this is sensible 
legislation and good for the financial health of the District of 
Columbia, I will vote in support of this sensible bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1204, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1204.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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