Jim Sensenbrenner: “Mr. Speaker, by way of background, Congress enacted the Executive Salary Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act in 1975 which was…”

“Mr. Speaker, by way of background, Congress enacted the Executive Salary Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act in 1975 which was intended to give judges, Members of Congress and high-ranking executive branch officials automatic COLAs accorded other Federal employees unless rejected by Congress. In 1981, Congress amended the statute by enacting section 140 of Public Law 97-92, which requires a specific congressional authorization to grant judges a COLA. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us is based on the template set forth in H.R. 16, now Public Law 108-6, which the House passed back in January and the President signed in February. H.R. 16 satisfied the section 140 requirement and thereby enabled judges to receive a COLA for this past fiscal year. H.R. 3349 accomplishes the same purpose for fiscal year 2004. One final point, Mr. Speaker. The House will recall that Congress passed the Ethics Reform Act in 1989 to address the issue of Federal public service compensation. The mechanism for raising judicial salaries under the Act is premised on congressional action following a Presidential recommendation.”