Federal Salary Control Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Post Office and civil serviceThe career federal workforce, hired by merit and protected from being fired for political reasons. About 2 million people, the vast majority of the executive branch.Read the full definition (opens a new tab).
Federal Salary Control Act of 1979 - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to prohibit any increase in the pay of a Senator or Member of the House of Representatives for any calendar year after 1986 if the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases by more than two percent for either of the two fiscal years immediately preceding such calendar year. Reduces the annual pay rate of members of Congress by a percentage of the rate of pay for the previous calendar year equal to the percentage increase in the CPI for the fiscal year ending during such previous calendar year. Stipulates that such a reduction in pay shall not take effect: (1) for any of calendar years 1982 through 1985 if the CPI does not increase by more than seven percent during each preceding fiscal year; and (2) for any calendar year after 1985 which is preceded by a fiscal year in which the CPI does not increase by over two percent. Declares that the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress shall not be reduced to less than $42,500. Sets forth similar provisions regarding pay reductions and increases for employees of the executive branch who are appointed by the President or the head of an executive department and whose annual pay equals or exceeds $40,000. Prohibits the reduction of the annual pay rate for such employees to less than $32,500.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on June 21, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on June 21, 1979: Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
ROBERT DORNAN (R-CA) introduced it on June 21, 1979. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 21, 1979, 17248 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17248 days ago, on June 21, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers