[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6413]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  WHY I OPPOSED H.R. 5146, BLOCKING THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR 
                          MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I voted today in opposition 
to H.R. 5146, Blocking the Cost of Living Adjustment for Congress. This 
legislation was introduced today, had no hearings, was not considered 
for a mark-up, and was brought to the floor of the House under an 
expedited procedure that would not allow for any amendments nor its 
full and complete consideration. I oppose this bill because Congress 
has established a fair system to regulate the pay of Members of 
Congress. This bill, by denying a reasonable and fair cost of living 
increase for Members of Congress, casts a wider chill on the respect 
and value that we give to all public servants.
  Under Article I, Section Six of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is to 
determine its own pay. Historically, Congress has not frequently raised 
their pay. According to the Congressional Research Service, between 
1789 through 1968--(179 years)--Congress raised their pay only 22 
times. Stand-alone legislation was used to increase Congress' pay in 
1982, 1983, 1989 and 1991, and in 1989, an automatic annual adjustment 
was used. This automatic annual adjustment was to eliminate the need 
for significant boosts in the salaries of Members of Congress. The cost 
of living increase for Members of Congress is not to exceed the rate 
given for any and all other federal employees. This is a fair and 
equitable system.
  The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 included a freeze on the 
salaries of Members of Congress. I supported this measure. I supported 
the cost of living adjustment freeze then, because the bill had been 
through the legislative process. I could measure the benefits of the 
overall bill for the people of the 13th Congressional District of 
Michigan and America. That is not true of H.R. 5146.
  I also oppose this bill because this bill denigrates public service 
and the institution of Congress. Like all other public servants, 
Members of Congress work for the people of this country. In order to 
serve the people of America, Members of Congress must establish two 
residences and fly between Washington, DC, and our homes almost every 
week. Members of Congress spend hours, days and sometimes weeks away 
from our homes working for 600,000 or more constituents in our 
districts. We travel throughout the world to investigate and understand 
how America can make a positive difference.
  I am proud of the tremendous responsibility it takes to be a public 
servant as a Member of Congress. I am honored and humbled by the faith 
that the people of the 13th Congressional District of Michigan have in 
my service to them. In voting against this bill, I am saying loud and 
clear that we should value the hard work and dedication of all of our 
public servants. We work hard each and every day to ensure that America 
is safe, strong and the best place in the world for all Americans. I 
value this hallowed and great institution called the U.S. House of 
Representatives. If we, as Members of Congress, do not stand up for 
ourselves, how can we stand up for the hundreds of thousands of other 
public servants who look to us as leaders?
  I am proud to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. I am 
honored and proud to be a public servant. Congress established a fair 
and equitable way to automatically compensate the hard and difficult 
work of Members of Congress. I supported previous legislation denying 
the automatic pay raise because that bill went through regular order 
and contained many provisions important to the people of the 13th 
Congressional District and America. This bill was not considered under 
the regular rules of the House. This bill says that we do not value the 
work of America's public servants.

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