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Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables

Changes from October 31, 2005 to April 18, 2006

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Order Code 97-1011 GOV Updated October 31, 2005April 18, 2006 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Salaries of Members of Congress: A List of Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2006 Paul E. Dwyer Specialist in American National Government Government and Finance Division Summary Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay. Prior to 1969, Congress did so by enacting stand-alone legislation. From 1789 through 1968, Congress raised its pay 22 times using this procedure. Congressional salaries initially were $1,500. By 1968, they had risen to $30,000. Stand-alone legislation may still be used to raise Member pay, as it was most recently in 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1991, but two other methods are now also available, an automatic annual adjustment procedure and a commission process. In January 20052006, Members received a 2.51.9% increase under the annual adjustment procedure, increasing their salary to $162,100165,200. They are scheduled to receive a 1.92.0% increase under the procedure in January 20062007, to $165,200168,500. Background There are three basic ways to adjust Member pay. Stand-alone legislation has frequently and primarily been used to raise Member pay throughout most of U.S. history, 1789 to the present. However, two other methods are also available. The second method by which Member pay can be increased is pursuant to recommendations from the President, based on those made by a quadrennial salary commission. In 1967, Congress established the Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries to recommend salary increases for top-level federal officials (P.L. 90-206). Three times (in 1969, 1977, and 1987) Congress received pay increases made under this procedure; on three occasions it did not. Effective with passage of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (P.L. 101-194), the commission ceased to exist. Its authority was assumed by the Citizens’ Commission on Public Service and Compensation. Although the first commission under the 1989 Act was to have convened in 1993, it did not meet. The third method by which the salary of Members can be changed is by annual adjustments. Prior to 1990, the pay of Members, and other top-level federal officials, was tied to the annual comparability increases provided to General Schedule (GS) federal Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress CRS-2 employees. This procedure was established in 1975 (P.L. 94-82). Such increases were recommended by the President, subject to congressional acceptance, disapproval, or modification. Congress accepted five such increases for itself — in 1975, 1979 (partial), 1984, 1985, and 1987 — and declined 10 since this method was authorized (1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, and 1989). The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 changed the method by which the annual adjustment is determined for Members and other senior officials, based on a formula using changes in private sector wages and salaries as measured by the Employment Cost Index. Under this revised method, annual adjustments were accepted ten11 times (those scheduled for January 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006) and denied and 2005) and denied five times (those scheduled for January 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999). The annual adjustment automatically goes into effect unless : (1) Congress statutorily prohibits the adjustment; (2) Congress statutorily revises the adjustment; or (3) the annual base paypay1 adjustment of GS employees is established at a rate less than than the scheduled increase for Members, in which case Members would be paid the lower rate.12 Pending January 20062007 Member Pay Increase of 1.9% The pending 1.9% pay increase2.0% An increase of 2.0% in Member pay, based upon the formula mandated under the annual adjustment procedure, is scheduled to take effect January 2006.2 Its implementation is in question due to the Senate’s recent move to deny the increase. The Senate agreed on October 18, 2005, to an amendment (No. 2062), by a vote of 92 to 6 (No. 256), offered by Senator Jon Kyl to forgo the Member pay adjustment.3 The amendment was offered during consideration of H.R.3058, Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2006, and would not apply to top-level executive and judicial branch officials. The House version of the bill does not include this provision, and the differences will be resolved in conference. Should the 1.9% increase survive conference, it appears that it would not be adversely affected by the pending 3.1% average increase in the base pay of GS employees. As stated above, if the annual base pay adjustment of GS employees is less than the 1 Base pay is the pay rate before locality pay is added. 2 The annual annual adjustment procedure, is scheduled to take effect January 2007.3 Even if Congress does not prohibit the adjustment, the increase might be adversely affected by the pending increase in the pay of GS employees. Based on a formula mandated under the annual comparability pay procedure, GS employees are authorized to receive a base pay increase of 1.7% in January 2007.4 The President, however, recommended a 2.2% average increase in the pay of GS employees in the FY2007 U.S. Budget. This increase reflects adjustments in both base and locality pay. The President’s proposal overrides the amount dictated by formula, unless Congress directs differently. 1 Base pay is the pay rate before locality pay is added. 2 P.L. 103-356, 108 Stat. 3410-33411, Oct. 13, 1994. 3 The annual Member pay adjustment was determined by a formula using the Employment Cost Index (private industry wages and salaries, not seasonally adjusted), based on the percentage change reflected in the fourth quarter (ending December 31) of the two preceding years, minus 0.5%. The 2.0% adjustment was determined by taking the percentage increase in the Index between the quarters ending December 2004 and December 2005, which was 2.5%, and subtracting 0.5%. 4 The annual GS pay adjustment was determined by a formula using the Employment Cost Index (private industry wages and salaries, not seasonally adjusted), based on the percentage change reflected in the fourth quarter (ending DecemberSeptember 31) of the two preceding years, minus 0.5%. The 1.97% adjustment was determined by taking the percentage increase in the Index between the quarters ending December 2003 and December 2004September 2004 and September 2005, which was 2.4%, and subtracting 0.5% 3 Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 151, no. 132, Oct. 18, 2005, pp. S11458-60. CRS-3 scheduled Member increase, Members would be paid the lower rate. The base pay component of the pending 3.1% adjustment likely will be greater than 1.9%.4 Should the 3.1% increase be approved by Congress, the President, if he accepts it, will issue an executive order allotting a percentage for base pay and a percentage for locality pay. In the past, 1.0% typically has been allocated for locality pay. In the case of a 3.1% adjustment, this would leave the base pay allotment at 2.1%, thereby not adversely impacting the scheduled 1.9% Member increase. In the unlikely event that the President allotted locality pay at a higher rate, for example, 1.3%, and allotted 1.8% for the base pay component, Members would then receive the lower rate of 1.8%. Recap of January 2005 Member Pay Increase Under the annual adjustment procedure, Members were scheduled to receive an increase of 2.5% in January 2005.5 This increase became official when President Bush issued an executive order on December 30, 2004, containing his allocation of a 3.5% pay increase for GS federal employees — 2.5% for base pay and 1.0% for locality pay. The 3.5% increase had been approved earlier by Congress as a provision in the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed into P.L. 108-447 on December 8, 2004. Congress did not specify an allocation between base and locality pay. Members could have received an increase less than 2.5% if the GS base pay had been lower than 2.5%. By law, Members are limited to an increase no greater than that of the base pay of GS employees (P.L. 103-356). The base pay component of the GS annual pay adjustment had to be 2.5% because that is what annual adjustment law mandated. The percentage amount could have been changed if the President had issued an alternative pay plan providing for a base pay increase different from the legally mandated 2.5% increase. His plan specifying such a change had to be sent to Congress by November 30, 2004. The President did issue an alternative plan to Congress on November 30, 2004, but it did not change the 2.5% base pay increase. He submitted an alternative plan solely because of a locality pay issue. Although his plan did not contain a locality pay increase recommendation, the President needed to issue an alternative plan because otherwise a higher locality pay percentage would have automatically become effective. The higher locality pay percentage was required by law and could have been changed only through an alternative plan and executive order. 4 The 3.1% average GS pay adjustment is contained in both House and Senate versions of H.R.3058, Transportation, the Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, the Executive Office of the President, and Independent Agencies. The bills are in conference.2%, and subtracting 0.5%. CRS-3 If Congress does not alter the President’s 2.2% proposal, the President will issue an executive order allotting a percentage for base pay and a percentage for locality pay later in 2006. Usually, the executive order is issued near the end of December. How the President makes this allotment can have a direct impact on the amount of the Member pay adjustment. As stated above, if the annual base pay adjustment for GS employees is less than the scheduled Member increase, Members would be paid the lower rate. The base pay component of the President’s pending 2.2% GS adjustment scheduled for January 2007 may be lower than the pending Member 2.0% increase. The base pay component may be lower since 1.0% typically has been allocated for locality pay in the past. In the case of a 2.2% adjustment, this would put the base pay allotment at 1.2%, thereby adversely affecting the scheduled 2.0% Member by limiting Members to a 1.2% increase. It is possible however that the President might make an exception to the customary 1.0% locality pay designation and allocate a lesser percentage for locality pay. In this case, the base pay allocation would be increased. A possible scenario according to some is an allocation of 0.5% for locality pay and 1.7% for base pay. The President might designate 1.7% as the base pay allocation because that percentage is the increase to which GS employees are entitled under the pay formula. In this case, Member pay would also be adversely affected, because Members would be limited to a 1.7% increase. Customarily, Congress attaches provisions affecting Member and GS pay to the regular annual Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, Judiciary, District of Columbia and Independent Agencies appropriation bill (hereafter referred to as the Transportation and Treasury appropriation bill). The only congressional action on pay taken thus far in 2006 is a Senate vote (voice) on March 8, 2006, to require that Members of Congress who vote for an amendment (or against the tabling of an amendment) to deny Members the annual comparability adjustment, are not to receive the increase, if Congress allows the increase take effect. Recap of January 2006 Member Pay Increase Under the annual adjustment procedure, Members were scheduled to receive an increase of 1.9% in January 2006.5 This increase became official when President Bush issued an executive order on December 22, 2005, containing his allocation of a 3.1% pay increase for GS federal employees, 2.1% for base pay and an average of 1.0% for locality pay. The 3.1% increase had been approved earlier by Congress as a provision in the FY2006 Transportation and Treasury Appropriation Act, signed into P.L. 109-115 on November 30, 2005. Congress did not specify an allocation between base and locality pay in the act. Implementation of a 2006 Member pay increase was in question due to a move 5 The annual pay adjustment was determined by a formula using the Employment Cost Index (private industry wages and salaries, not seasonally adjusted), based on the percentage change reflected in the fourth quarter (ending December 31) of the two preceding years, minus 0.5%. The 2.51.9% adjustment was determined by taking the percentage increase in the Index between the quarters ending December 20022003 and December 20032004, which was 3.0%, and subtracting 0.5%. CRS-4 The President’s plan of November 30, however, assured that Members would receive their scheduled 2.5% annual adjustment because of the link between Member pay and GS base pay. Members do not receive locality pay. The President did not address the pending 3.5% increase (for base and locality pay combined) in his November 30 plan because he had not yet received the legislation containing the increase (H.R. 4818). He subsequently received and signed H.R. 4818 into law on December 8 (P.L. 108-447). The President then was required to issue an executive order officially allocating the 3.5% between base pay and locality pay. As a consequence of the President’s action, the base pay increase was 2.5%, leaving 1% for locality pay2.4%, and subtracting 0.5%. CRS-4 by the Senate to deny the increase. The Senate agreed on October 18, 2005, to an amendment (S.Amdt. 2062), by a vote of 92 to 6 (vote # 256), offered by Senator Jon Kyl to forgo the adjustment.6 The amendment was offered during consideration of H.R.3058, FY2006 Transportation and Treasury appropriations bill, and did not apply to top-level executive and judicial branch officials. The House version of the bill did not include this provision. Conferees struck the Senate provision from the bill. Table 1 provides a history of the salaries of Members of Congress, 1789-2006. For each salary rate, both the effective date and the statutory authority are indicated. From 1976 1976 to 1983, the salary actually paid to Members was less than the salary to which Members were entitled. This was so because Members were entitled to salaries authorized pursuant to the annual comparability pay procedure (P.L. 94-82). However, on several occasions Congress did not appropriate funds to pay any or some of the new salary increases mandated by P.L. 94-82. Accordingly, the salaries shown in this table are the payable rates, the salaries actually paid to Members of Congress. Table 1. Salaries of Members of Congress, 1789-2006 6 Payable Salarya Effective Date Statutory Authority $1,500b March 4, 1789 1 Stat. 70-71 (September 22, 1789) $1,500b March 4, 1795 1 Stat. 70-71 (September 22, 1789) $1,500b March 3, 1796 1 Stat. 448 (March 10, 1796) $1,500 December 4, 1815 3 Stat. 257 (March 19, 1816) $1,500b March 3, 1817 3 Stat. 345 (February 6, 1817) $2,000b March 3, 1817 3 Stat. 404 (January 22, 1818) $3,000 December 3, 1855 11 Stat. 48 (August 16, 1856) $3,000c December 23, 1857 11 Stat. 367 (December 23, 1857) $5,000 December 4, 1865 14 Stat. 323 (July 28, 1866) $7,500 March 4, 1871 17 Stat. 486 (March 3, 1873) $5,000 January 20, 1874 18 Stat. 4 (January 20, 1874) $7,500 March 4, 1907 34 Stat. 993 (February 26, 1907) $10,000 March 4, 1925 43 Stat. 1301 (March 4, 1925) Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 151, no. 132, Oct. 18, 2005, pp. S11458-60. CRS-5 Payable Salarya Effective Date Statutory Authority $9,000 July 1, 1932 47 Stat. 401 (June 30, 1932) $8,500 April 1, 1933 48 Stat. 14 (March 20, 1933) $9,000d February 1, 1934 48 Stat. 521 (March 28, 1934) $9,500 July 1, 1934 48 Stat. 521 (March 28, 1934) $10,000 April 4, 1935 49 Stat. 24 (February 13, 1935) $12,500 January 3, 1947 60 Stat. 850 (August 2, 1946) $22,500 March 1, 1955 69 Stat. 11 (March 2, 1955) $30,000 January 3, 1965 78 Stat. 415 (August 14, 1964) $42,500 March 1, 1969 81 Stat. 642 (December 16, 1967) $44,600 October 1, 1975 89 Stat. 421 (August 9, 1975) $57,500 March 1, 1977 81 Stat. 642 (December 16, 1967) $60,662.50 October 1, 1979 89 Stat. 421 (August 9, 1975) $69,800 December 18, 1982, for Representatives; July 1, 1983, for Senators 96 Stat. 1914 (December 21, 1982) 97 Stat. 338 (July 30, 1983) $72,600 January 1, 1984 89 Stat. 421 (August 9, 1975) $75,100 January 1, 1985 89 Stat. 421 (August 9, 1975) $77,400 January 1, 1987 89 Stat. 421 (August 9, 1975) $89,500 February 4, 1987 81 Stat. 642 (December 16, 1967) $96,600e (Representatives) February 1, 1990 103 Stat. 1767-1768 (November 30, 1989) $98,400e (Senators) February 1, 1990 103 Stat. 1767-1768 (November 30, 1989) $125,100 (Representatives) January 1, 1991 103 Stat. 1768-1769 (November 30, 1989) $101,900 (Senators) January 1, 1991 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $125,100 (Senators) August 14, 1991 105 Stat. 450 (August 14, 1991) CRS-6 Payable Salarya Effective Date Statutory Authority $129,500 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 1992 103 Stat.1769 (November 30, 1989) CRS-6 Payable Salarya Effective Date Statutory Authority $133,600 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 1993 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $136,700 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 1998 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $141,300 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 2000 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $145,100 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 2001 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $150,000 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 2002 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $154,700 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 2003 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $158,100 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 2004 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) $162,100 (Reps. and Sens.) January 1, 2005 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) (Pending: $165,200 (Reps. Andand Sens.) January 1, 2006 103 Stat. 1769 (November 30, 1989) a. From 1976 to 1983, the salary actually paid to Members was less than the salary to which Members were entitled. This was so because Members were entitled to salaries authorized pursuant to the annual comparability pay procedure (P.L. 94-82). However, on several occasions Congress did not appropriate funds to pay any or some of the new salary increases mandated by P.L. 94-82. Accordingly, the salaries shown in this table are the payable rates, the salaries actually paid to Members of Congress. b. Per diem rates have been converted to per annum rates based on a hypothetically possible 250-day session. From 1789 to 1856, Senators and Representatives received a per diem pay rate while Congress was in session, except for the period December 1815 — March 1817, when they received $1,500 a year. First established at $6 a day in 1789 ($7 for Senators from March 4, 1795 — March 3, 1796), the per diem was raised to $8 in 1818 and remained there until 1856, when Members of Congress were placed on annual salaries. c. In 1857, Congress provided for pay at the rate of $250 per month while in session, or a maximum of $3,000 per annum. d. The act authorized the restoration of pay as of February 1, 1934, and the restoration of pay as of July 1, 1, 1934. e. The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (103 Stat. 1767-1768) increased pay for Representatives and Senators at different rates. The pay of Representatives was increased to reflect the previously denied 1989 and 1990 pay adjustments (4.1% and 3.6%), compounded at 7.9%, effective February 1, 1990. The act further provided for a 25% increase in Representatives’ pay, effective January 1, 1991. As a result, the pay of Representatives increased from $89,500 to $96,600 on February 1, 1990, and increased to $125,100 on January 1, 1991. The pay of Senators was increased to reflect the previously denied 1988, 1989, and 1990 comparability pay adjustments (2%, 4.1%, and 3.6%), compounded at 9.9%, effective February 1, 1990. As a result, the pay of Senators increased from $89,500 to $98,400 on February 1, 1990. The Ethics Act did not provide for any other pay increase for Senators, as it did in providing a 25% increase for Representatives. The reason is that Senators elected to deny themselves the 25% increase increase while retaining the ability to receive honoraria. Subsequently, the Senate voted to increase its pay rate to that of Representatives and to prohibit receipt of honoraria by Senators, effective August 14, 1991. As a result, Senate pay increased from $101,900 to $125,100 per annum.