ICYMI: Higher pay possible for House employees

Source: e-Dear Colleague letter of January 27, 2020

Revised Maximum Rate of Pay for Employees in Member, Committee, Leadership, and House Support Offices

Sending Office: Chief Administrative Officer of the House
Sent By: caocommunications@mail.house.gov

Dear Colleague,

Please be advised that the Speaker of the House has issued a pay order in accordance with the authority vested in the Speaker by section 311 (d) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1988 (Public Law 100-202), as amended by section 212 (b) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-93). Effective January 1, 2020, each head of an employing office within the House whose pay is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer may establish the pay for employees in that office (to include employees in the office of a Member, Committee, Leader, or House Support Office) to a maximum annual rate of $173,900.

If you desire to adjust pay for an employee who is at a maximum level established under current limits, according to the 2009 Speaker’s Pay Order, to reflect this new ceiling, effective January 1, 2020, a Payroll Authorization Form must be submitted to the Office of Payroll and Benefits no later than Friday, January 31, 2020. All salary adjustments submitted by January 31 will be included in the January 2020 off-cycle payroll scheduled to be paid on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

Otherwise, if you desire to adjust any employee’s pay to reflect this new ceiling for February or thereafter, a Payroll Authorization Form must be submitted to the Office of Payroll and Benefits no later than the 15th of the month for which the pay increase is to be effective.

The Payroll Authorization Form is available on HouseNet or from the Office of Payroll and Benefits located in Longworth B215.

Please note that this Pay Order does not automatically increase your MRA or office budget, and any adjustments in pay that are made for your employees are still included within your current MRA/budget amount. Keep in mind, for any adjustments effective January 1, 2020, increasing pay for January 1 & 2 will be charged against Legislative Year 2019 budgets.

Please contact the Office of Payroll and Benefits with any questions at 202-225-1435.

Sincerely,

Philip G. Kiko
Chief Administrative Officer