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Government Series
Congressional Pay and Perks (Softcover)
Salaries, Pension and Retirement, Franking, Travel, and Other Benefits for U.S. Senators and Representatives
Compiled by TheCapitol.Net
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. Members were initially paid per diem. The first annual salaries, in 1815, were $1,500. Per diem pay was reinstituted in 1817. Congress returned to annual salaries, at a rate of $3,000, in 1855. By 1968, pay 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--including an automatic annual adjustment procedure and a commission process--are now also available.
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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:
CSRS and Social Security;
The "CSRS Offset" plan, which includes both CSRS and Social Security, but with CSRS contributions and benefits reduced by Social Security contributions and benefits;
FERS and Social Security;
or
Social Security alone.
Congressional pensions, like those of other federal employees, are financed through a combination of employee and employer contributions. All Members pay Social Security payroll taxes equal to 6.2% of the Social Security taxable wage base ($102,000 in 2008 and $106,800 in 2009). Members enrolled in FERS also pay 1.3% of full salary to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. In 2008, Members covered by CSRS Offset pay 1.8% of the first $102,000 of salary, and 8.0% of salary above this amount, into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
Under both CSRS and FERS, Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.
After Members of the House leave office, they are afforded certain courtesies and privileges. Some are derived from House Rules, but many are courtesies that have been extended as a matter of custom. Former Representatives who become lobbyists have limited privileges.
Links to more information about Congressional pay and perquisites is available on our web page at:
CongressPay.com
1. "Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes,
1990-2009," CRS Report for Congress 97-615, January
12, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
- Introduction -- Source of Member Pay Appropriations -- Application of the 27th Amendment to the Annual Adjust - Most Recent Developments -- January 2011 Member Pay Projected Adjustment -- January 2010 Member Pay Adjustment Denied -- Attempts to Eliminate Automatic Annual Adjustment Procedure in the 111th Congress - Prior Actions and Votes by Year -- 2009 -- 2008 -- 2007 -- 2006 -- 2005 -- 2004 -- 2003 -- 2002 -- 2001 -- 2000 -- 1999 -- 1998 -- 1997 -- 1996 -- 1995 -- 1994 -- 1993 -- 1992 -- 1991 -- 1990
2. "Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and
Historical Tables," CRS Report for Congress 97-1011H,
January 12, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
- Background - January 2010 Member Pay Pay Projected Adjustment - January 2010 Member Pay Adjustment Denied - January 2009 Member Pay Adjustment of 2.8% - Figure 1. Salary for Members of Congress: Current and Constant Dollars, 1992-2009
- Table 1. Salary Adjustments for Members of Congress Since 1789 - Table 2. Member Pay Projected vs. Actual Adjustments Since 1992 - Table 3. Legislative Vehicles Used for Previous Pay Prohibitions and Enacted Dates
3. Congressional Salaries and Allowances," CRS Report for Congress RL30064H, July 14, 2009. . . . . . 41
- Compensation of Members of Congress and Related Benefits - Compensation - Outside Earned Income and Honoraria Limits - Tax Deductions - Health and Life Insurance Provisions - Health Insurance - Life Insurance - Retirement Provisions - Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances for U.S. Representatives - House Allowance System - Personnel Allowance Component of the MRA - Official Office Expenses Allowance Component of the MRA - Official Mail Allowance (Franking Privilege) Component of the MRA - Other Allowances - Government Publications - Travel Allowance for Organizational Caucuses or Conferences - Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances for U.S. Senators - Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account - Official Office Expense Allowance - Personnel Allowances: Administrative and Clerical Assistance and Legislative
Assistance - Official Mail Allowance - Other Allowances - Senate Interns - Office Space in States - Mobile Office Space for Senators - Furniture and Furnishings in Washington, DC - Furniture and Furnishings in State Offices - Office Equipment in Washington, DC, and State Offices - Government Publications - Compensation of Other Congressional Officers and Officials -- House of Representatives -- Senate - Compensation of Standing Committee Employees -- House of Representatives -- Senate - Table 1. Mileage Multiplier for MRA
4. "Legislative Branch Staffing, 1954-2007," CRS Report for Congress R40056, October 15, 2008 . . . . . 57
- Counting Positions: Full Time Equivalent and Payroll Positions - FTE Positions - Payroll Positions - Legislative Branch Staffing Trends, 1954-2007 - Potential Staffing Issues for Congress - Figure 1. Legislative Branch Staffing, 1954-2007 - Figure 2. Distribution of Legislative Branch Staff, 1955-2005 - Figure 3. House and Senate Staffing, 1975-2007 - Figure 4. Distribution of Legislative Branch Staff, 1975-2005 - Figure 5. Selected Legislative Agency Staffing, 1954-2007 - Table 1. Change in Legislative Branch Staffing, 1955-2005 - Table 2. Legislative Branch Employment, 2001-2007 - Table 3. Legislative Branch Employment, 1991-2000 - Table 4. Legislative Branch Employment, 1981-1990 - Table 5. Legislative Branch Employment, 1971-1980 - Table 6. Legislative Branch Employment, 1961-1970
- Table 7. Legislative Branch Employment, 1954-1960
5. "Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress," CRS Report for Congress RL30631H, October 28, 2008 . . . . . . 73
- Background on Congressional Pensions - Retirement Plans Available to Members of Congress
- Members First Elected Before 1984 - Members First Elected Since 1984 - Age and Length-of-Service Requirements - Retirement Under CSRS - Retirement Under FERS - Coordination of FERS Benefits with Social Security - Social Security Retirement Benefits - Social Security Earnings Limit - Required Contributions To Retirement Programs
- Total Payroll Deductions - Pension Plan Benefit Formulas - Pension Benefits Under CSRS - Pension Benefits Under FERS - Social Security Benefits - Pensions for Members with Service Under Both CSRS and FERS - Retirement Benefits under the CSRS Offset Plan - Replacement Rates
- Cost-of-Living Adjustments - The Thrift Savings Plan - Forfeiture of Annuity - Table 1. Replacement Rates for Members Retiring with an Immediate Annuity
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
- Privileges and Courtesies - Floor Privileges - Purchase of Washington, DC, Office Furnishings - Purchase of District Office Furnishings and Equipment - Purchase of Personal Digital Assistants and Cellular Phones - Shipment of Office Active Files - Storage/Shipment of Inactive Office Files - Archival Disposition of Office Files - Franking Privilege - Other Mailing Service - Use of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) - Use of the Library of Congress - Priority in Committee Testimony - Use of the House Exercise Facilities - Parking in the House Side of the Capitol - Other Traditional Benefits and Courtesies Extended to Former Members of
the House
8."Former Speakers of the House: Office Allowances, Franking Privileges, and Staff Assistance," CRS Report for Congress RS20099H, August 28, 2007 . . . . . . .
101
- Introduction - Allowances Made Available in 1959 - Allowances Made Available in 1970 - Allowances Made Available in 1974 - Changes in Allowances, 1974-Present - Allowances Currently Available to Former Speakers - Restrictions on Use of Allowances by Former Speakers
9."Franking Privilege: An Analysis of Member Mass Mailings in the House, 1997-2007," CRS Report for Congress RL34458, April 16, 2008 . . . . . .
109
- Introduction - Methodology - Data Collection - Summary Statistics - Aggregate House Member Mass Mailings, 1997-2007 - Quarterly Variation in Member Mass Mail Rates - Election vs. Non-Election Year
- Discussion - Figure 1. Congressional Mail Postage Costs, CY2000-CY2007 - Figure 2. Pieces of Mass Mail Sent, by Quarter, 1997 to 2007 - Table 1. Total Member Mass Mail Pieces Sent and Total Costs, House, CY1997-CY2007
- Table 2. Total Pieces of Member Mass Mail Sent, House, by Fiscal Year and Calendar
Year, 1998 to 2007
10."Congressional Official Mail Costs," CRS Report for Congress RL34188H, March 26, 2008. . . . . .
119
- Introduction - Official Mail Costs, FY2005 to FY2007 - Official Mail Costs - Mass Mailing Costs - Election Year vs. Non-election Year - Official Mail Costs, FY1954 - FY2007 - Increased Costs, FY1954-FY1988 - Costs Reduced, FY1988-FY2007 - Monthly Variation, FY2000 to FY2007 - Figure 1. Monthly Official Mail Costs, October 2004 to December 2007 - Figure 2. Franked Mail Costs (FY1954-FY1977) and Official Congressional Mail Costs
(FY1978-FY2007) - Figure 3. Official Mail Costs, by Chamber, FY1978-FY2007 - Figure 4. Monthly Official Mail Costs, House, FY2000-FY2007 - Figure 5. Monthly Official Mail Costs, Senate, FY2000-FY2007 - Figure 6. Monthly Official Mail Costs, Senate (re-scaled), FY2000 to FY2007 - Table 1. Official Mail Costs, by Fiscal Year and Calendar Year, 2005 to 2007 - Table 2. Official Mail Costs, by Chamber, FY1978 to FY2007
11. "Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change," CRS Report for Congress RL34274, September 8, 2008 . . . . .
131
- Introduction - History of the Congressional Franking Privilege - Origins of the Franking Privilege - Early Franking Law, 1789 - 1873
- Significant Restrictions, 1873 - 1895 - Franking Restored, 1895 - 1973 - Franking Reform, 1973 - 1977 - Contemporary Reforms, 1986 - Present. - Mass Communications - Contemporary Activities of the Franking Commission - Other Recipients of the Franking Privilege - Vice President - Congressional Officers - Former Members of Congress - Members-elect - Relatives of Members of Congress - Former Presidents and Widows of Presidents - Executive Branch Officials - Postmasters - Soldiers - Criticism of the Franking Privilege - Cost of Franking - Illegal Abuse of Franking Privileges - Incumbency Advantage - Technological Advance - Defense of the Franking Privilege - Linking Citizens and Representatives - Facilitating the Spread of Political News - Institutional Defense of Congress - Dimensions of the Franking Privilege - Who Has the Franking Privilege? - When Can the Frank Be Used? - What Materials Can Members Send Under the Frank?
- How Much Franked Mail Can Members Send? - Where Can Such Materials Be Sent? - Options for Future Franking Change - Abolish the Franking Privilege - Prohibit Mass Mailings - Prohibit Unsolicited Mailings - Extend the Pre-election Ban on Mass Mailings - Give Franking Privileges to Electoral Challengers - Reduce the Allowance Given to Members for Franked Mail - Increase Cost Disclosure Requirements - Concluding Observations
12. "Members of Congress Who Die in Office: Historic and Current Practices," CRS Report for Congress RL34347H, August 26, 2009 . . . . .
157
- Background and Context - Floor Announcement or Acknowledgment of a Member's Death - House Practice - Representatives-Elect - Senate Practice - Resolutions of Condolence - House Practice - Senate Practice - Funeral and Disposition of Remains - House Practice - Senate Practice - Deceased Member's Office, Staff, and Survivor Benefits - House Practice - Senate Practice - Publication of Memorials - House Practice - Senate Practice -Table 1. Members of the House Who Died in Office, and Resolutions of Condolence
Adopted in the House and Senate, 1973-2008 - Table 2. Senators Who Died in Office, and Resolutions of Condolence Adopted in the
Senate and House, 1978-2009
13. From the
Congressional Deskbook: Chapter 1, "Being a Member of Congress,"
by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider . . . . . 181
1.00 Introduction 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
14. From the
Congressional Deskbook: Chapter
5, "Supporting Congress: Allowances and Staff," by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider . . . . . . . . . .
201
5.00 Introduction 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
15. From the
Congressional Deskbook: Chapter
6, "Supporting Congress: The Capitol Complex," by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider . . . . . . . . . . 251
6.00 Introduction 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
16. Other Resources
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. . . . 281
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