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Title 2 — The CongressRelease 119-73

§4573 Senate pay adjustments; action by President pro tempore of Senate

Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - CONGRESSIONAL PAY AND BENEFITS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - SENATE › Part Part A— - Amount and Type › § 4573

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When Senators’ pay is changed after November 5, 1990 (except when the change is only because of General Schedule adjustments under 5 U.S.C. 5303), the President pro tempore of the Senate can change the pay rates, and any minimums, maximums, limits, or allowances, for staff whose pay is paid by the Secretary of the Senate. This power covers staff in jobs that had fixed pay amounts or fixed top pay as of the day before the changes made by section 212 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020, and it is subject to section 4575(f). The President pro tempore can act in the way he thinks best, and those pay changes count as law.

Full Legal Text

Title 2, §4573

The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whenever, after November 5, 1990, there is an adjustment in rates of pay for Senators (other than an adjustment which occurs by virtue of an adjustment under section 5303 of title 5 in rates of pay under the General Schedule), the President pro tempore of the Senate may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, or regulation, adjust the rate of pay (and any minimum or maximum rate, limitation, or allowance) applicable to personnel whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate (including such personnel appointed to positions for which the specific amount of the rate of pay for the particular position is fixed by statute on the day before the effective date of the amendments made by section 212 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020 and such personnel appointed to positions for which the maximum rates of pay for the particular positions were fixed by or pursuant to law on the day before such effective date), subject to section 4575(f) of this title.
(b)Adjustments made by the President pro tempore under this section shall be made in such manner as he considers advisable and shall have the force and effect of law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a), is set out under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. The

Effective Date

of the

Amendments

made by section 212 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020, referred to in subsec. (a), is the

Effective Date

of section 212 of div. E of Pub. L. 116–94. See

Effective Date

of 2019 Amendment note below. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 60a–1b of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–103 substituted “, subject to section 4575(f) of this title.” for “to the extent necessary to maintain the pay relationships that existed on such

Effective Date

between the maximum rate of pay for Senate personnel and Senators.” 2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–94 substituted “(including such personnel appointed to positions for which the specific amount of the rate of pay for the particular position is fixed by statute on the day before the

Effective Date

of the

Amendments

made by section 212 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020 and such personnel appointed to positions for which the maximum rates of pay for the particular positions were fixed by or pursuant to law on the day before such

Effective Date

) to the extent necessary to maintain the pay relationships that existed on such

Effective Date

between the maximum rate of pay for Senate personnel and Senators.” for “to the extent necessary to maintain the same pay relationships that existed on December 31, 1986, between personnel and Senators and between positions.” 1991—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–90 substituted “5303” for “5305”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2022 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 117–103 effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 213(b) of div. I of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as a note under section 4571 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2019 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 116–94 effective on the later of the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2020, or the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after Dec. 20, 2019, see section 212(c) of div. E of Pub. L. 116–94, set out as a note under section 282b of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

2 U.S.C. § 4573

Title 2 — The Congress

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73