Congressional Record, Volume 167 Issue 130 (Monday, July 26, 2021)

[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.

____________________