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The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 established the current formula for automatic annual adjustments, which is based on changes in private sector wages and salaries as measured by the Employment Cost Index. The adjustment goes into effect automatically unless denied statutorily by Congress, although the percentage may not exceed the percentage base pay increase for General Schedule employees. Allowances are available to Representatives and Senators to support them in their official and representational duties as Members. These allowances cover official office expenses, staff, mail, and other goods and services. Despite significant reductions in congressional mail postage costs over the past 20 years, critics continue to raise concerns that the franking privilege is both financially wasteful and gives unfair advantages to incumbents in congressional elections. In particular, mass mailings have come under increased scrutiny as critics argue that the vast majority of franked mail is unsolicited and, in effect, publicly funded campaign literature. Members of Congress first elected in 1984 or later are covered automatically under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS), unless they decline this coverage. Those who already were in Congress when Social Security coverage went into effect could either remain in CSRS or change their coverage to FERS. Members are now covered under one of four different retirement arrangements: | ||||||||||||
Updated Congressional Pay Table on Hobnob Blog |
Links to more information about Congressional pay and perquisites is available on our web page at: CongressPay.com
17. Other Resources . . . . 282Table of Contents
Introduction 1. "Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2009," CRS Report for Congress 97-615, January 12, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
(see CRS Report 97-615, August 18, 2018, 39-page PDF)
2. "Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables," CRS Report for Congress 97-1011H, January 12, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
(see CRS Report 97-1011, August 18, 2020, 31-page PDF)
3. Congressional Salaries and Allowances," CRS Report for Congress RL30064H, July 14, 2009. . . . . . 41
(see CRS Report RL30064, December 30, 2019, 17-page PDF)
4. "Legislative Branch Staffing, 1954-2007," CRS Report for Congress R40056, October 15, 2008 . . . . . 57
5. "Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress," CRS Report for Congress RL30631H, October 28, 2008 . . . . . . 73
(see CRS Report RL30631, August 8, 2019, 23-page PDF)
6. "Brief Facts About Congressional Pensions," CRS Report for Congress 94-740, January 13, 2004 . . . . . . 89
7. "Selected Privileges and Courtesies Extended to Departing and Former Members of the House of Representatives," CRS Report for Congress 98-962H, August 19, 2008 . . . . . . 91
(see CRS Report R41121, December 5, 2014, 8-page PDF)
8. "Former Speakers of the House: Office Allowances, Franking Privileges, and Staff Assistance," CRS Report for Congress RS20099H, August 28, 2007 . . . . . . . 101
(see CRS Report RS20099, September 28, 2018, 9-page PDF)
9. "Franking Privilege: An Analysis of Member Mass Mailings in the House, 1997-2007," CRS Report for Congress RL34458, April 16, 2008 . . . . . . 109
(see CRS Report RL34458, May 6, 2015, 16-page PDF) 10. "Congressional Official Mail Costs," CRS Report for Congress RL34188H, March 26, 2008. . . . . . 119
(see CRS Report RL34188, April 21, 2015, 14-page PDF)
11. "Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change," CRS Report for Congress RL34274, September 8, 2008 . . . . . 131
(see CRS Report RL34274, April 22, 2015, 29-page PDF)
12. "Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic and Current Practices," CRS Report for Congress RL34347H, August 26, 2009 . . . . . 157
(see CRS Report RL34347, April 25, 2012, 32-page PDF and "Members of the House of Representatives Lying in State in the U.S. Capitol," CRS Insight IN11472, July 28, 2020, 6-page PDF )
13. From the Congressional Deskbook: Chapter 1, "Being a Member of Congress," by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider . . . . . 1811.00 Introduction14. From the Congressional Deskbook: Chapter 5, "Supporting Congress: Allowances and Staff," by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider . . . . . . . . . . 201
1.10 Who . . . Gets . . . What!
1.20 Congress, the Political Institution
1.30 A Member of Congress as Politician, Policymaker, and Parliamentarian
1.40 Obligations and Perquisites
1.50 Ever-Changing and Unpredictable Schedules
1.51 Example of a Senior House Member's Daily Schedule
1.52 Example of a Freshman House Member's Daily Schedule
1.53 Excerpt from House's Daily Schedule (GOP Source)
1.54 Excerpt from House's Daily Schedule (Democratic Source)
1.55 Floor Discussion of Schedule Changes
1.60 Family Life
1.70 Staying in Congress
5.00 Introduction15. From the Congressional Deskbook: Chapter 6, "Supporting Congress: The Capitol Complex," by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider . . . . . . . . . . 251
5.10 Pay and Allowances of Members
5.20 Salary, Earned Income, and Benefits
5.30 House Allowances for Staff, Office, and Other Expenses
5.40 Senate Allowances for Staff, Office, and Other Expenses
5.41 Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account
5.50 Franking Privilege
5.60 Personal Staff
5.61 Staff Salary Data
5.62 Congressional Staff Organizations
5.70 Committee and Subcommittee Staff
5.80 House of Representatives Committee Funding
5.90 Senate Committee Funding
5.100 Congressional Fellowships and Internships
5.110 Administrative Offices of the House
5.111 Chaplains and Guest Chaplains
5.112 Selling Products and Services to Congress
5.113 Congressional Pages
5.120 Administrative Offices of the Senate
5.121 Architect of the Capitol
5.122 Office of the Attending Physician
5.123 Capitol Police
5.130 Legislative-Branch Support Agencies
5.131 Requesting GAO Assistance
5.140 Government Printing Office
5.150 Congressional Accountability Act
5.160 General Services Administration
5.170 Congressional Liaison Offices
5.171 Liaison Offices on Capitol Hill
5.172 Duties of a Congressional Liaison Office
5.173 General Counsel Offices
5.180 Office of Management and Budget
5.190 Outside Groups
5.191 Congressional Spouse Organizations
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center6.00 Introduction16. Other Resources From TheCapitol.Net . . . . 281
6.10 U.S. Capitol and Grounds
6.11 The Lantern and Flags
6.12 Current Projects at the Capitol
6.13 Statues in National Statuary Hall
6.14 Those Who Have Lain in State or in Honor in the Capitol Rotunda
6.15 Resources on the Capitol
6.20 Guide to Public Buildings on Capitol Hill
6.21 Capitol Hill Map
6.22 Capitol Security
6.23 The Capitol's Second (Principal) Floor
6.24 House Office Buildings
6.25 Senate Office Buildings
6.30 Bells and Lights: Senate and House Signals
Web Pages- FAQ: Pay and Perquisites of Members of Congress
www.CongressPay.com
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