[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19607-19608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      PROVIDING FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF PAYDAY CHANGES

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 1752) to provide that the usual day for paying 
salaries in or under the House of Representatives may be established by 
regulations of the Committee on House Administration, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1752

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION TO 
                   ESTABLISH DAY FOR PAYING SALARIES IN OR UNDER 
                   THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

       Section 116(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 2002 (2 U.S.C. 60d-1) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new sentence: ``Notwithstanding the previous 
     sentence, the Committee on House Administration may by 
     regulation provide for the payment of salaries with respect 
     to a month on a date other than the date provided under the 
     previous sentence as may be necessary to conform to generally 
     accepted accounting practices.''.

     SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EXERCISE 
                   FACILITY FOR ACTIVE DUTY ARMED FORCES MEMBERS 
                   ASSIGNED TO CONGRESSIONAL LIAISON OFFICE.

       House Resolution 1068, One Hundred Tenth Congress, agreed 
     to April 15, 2008, is enacted into law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel 
E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
on this legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the principal purpose of this legislation is to allow 
the Committee on House Administration to oversee and administer a 
payday schedule for all staff in the House of Representatives. It does 
not affect pay for Members.
  The House passed a similar bill in the 110th Congress. This bill 
gives the Committee on House Administration the ability to set the day 
of pay for House employees. This flexibility will allow the committee 
to be more responsive to the needs of our employees, many of whom have 
expressed their frustration about the current system. Furthermore, this 
bill will give us the opportunity to be more consistent with employees 
in the Senate, the executive branch, and most of the private sector 
with regard to paydays.
  The committee also adopted a technical amendment to provide that 
staff members of congressional liaison offices assigned to the House 
who are on active duty in the Armed Forces will continue to be eligible 
to apply for membership in the House of Representatives staff exercise 
facility. The House passed a resolution, H. Res. 1068, in the 110th 
Congress which approved this policy, and the bill before us simply 
would enact it into permanent law.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1752, which will vest in the 
Committee on House Administration the authority to evaluate and 
implement best practices to improve efficiency in our payroll process.
  The House Inspector General has reported that it may be of benefit to 
the House to transition to a bimonthly pay cycle with a lag time. 
Preliminary financial assessments suggest that after incurring up-front 
transition costs, this change may reduce overpayments over time and 
reduce errors by more easily distributing the burden of incorporating 
payment changes into the system.
  If the distinguished gentlelady from California would enter into a 
colloquy on the subject of exactly how this authority is to be 
exercised, I would like to stress that the legislation before the House 
simply grants the Committee on House Administration the authority to 
change the pay cycle and does not in and of itself authorize any 
changes. As the gentlelady is aware, any change to our current 
operating status with regard to payroll would have a large impact on 
the daily lives of House staff. It is thus important that the committee 
granting this authority will act cautiously and only after soliciting 
and evaluating the feedback of the House community.

[[Page 19608]]

  I understand on the majority side that you would be willing to work 
with us to ensure that the opinions of House staff are gathered and 
considered prior to any potential change in the pay cycle.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. The gentleman is correct. We would be 
delighted to work with him on that.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I appreciate that very much.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I would urge support for this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1752, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Madam Speaker, I object to the 
vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of 
order that a quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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