and Mail, and the Subcommittee on Employee Benefits. This summary includes a report on the activities of each of these subcommittees. Because the U.S. Postal Service, under the provisions of Public Law 91-375, did not become officially operational until July 1, 1971. the committee felt constrained to defer action on legislation affecting the Postal Service with one exception, which was an amendment to H.R. 7964 adopted in committee, to require the Postal Service to assume fiscal responsibility for its share of the unfunded liability of the Civil Service retirement fund caused by negotiated pay increases. The committee believed this was in keeping with the general "wait and see" attitude during a critical transition period. At the same time, however, the committee, and its subcommittees, were disposed to conduct responsible legislative oversight and investigative functions as they considered necessary. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS In addition to the legislative action by the subcommittees as shown in reports submitted herein, the full committee held hearings on legislation establishing a career program for air traffic controllers in the Department of Transportation. This legislation, H.R. 8083, passed the House on October 4, under suspension of the rules, by a record vote of 293-0. The primary purpose of the committee from the outset was to insure the continued safety of the ever-increasing number of air travellers in our country. The committee is confident that the legislation will accomplish this goal, while at the same time initiating those changes that are needed in this area. The Secretary of Transportation would be granted greater flexibility in the management of the air traffic controller work force. However, it was necessary, in granting these powers to the Secretary, that the controller have adequate appeal rights, which have been provided for. In addition, since the controller is subject to emotional and physical stresses unique to his profession, it was imperative that there be established improved retirement benefits as well as a new career development training program for controllers who are unable to continue in their duties. PAY FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Statutory pay systems The Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-656) provides that pay adjustments for Federal employees under the statutory pay systems, based on the 1971 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, would be effective in January 1972, unless the President submitted an alternate plan to the Congress before September 1, 1971. The President submitted an alternate pay plan (H. Doc. 92–158) deferring the effective date of the 1971 comparability increases from January 1972 to July 1972. As provided under Public Law 91-656, the committee considered and reported, on September 21, 1971, House Resolution 596 (H. Rept. 92-483), which if adopted by the House would have vetoed the alternate plan. The House rejected House Resolution 596 by a vote of 174 to 207. The committee also considered and reported on September 30, 1971, H.R. 10881 (H. Rept. 92-538) specifically providing that the comparability adjustments based on the 1971 survey to be effective in January 1972 would not be greater than wage or salary guidelines which may be in effect in January 1972 under the economic stabilization program. H.R. 10881 was not considered by the House. On November 29, 1971, the Senate adopted an amendment to the Economic Stabilization Act Amendments of 1971 (S. 2891), (Congressional Record, p. S19737) specifically providing for a January 1972 effective date for the 1971 comparability pay adjustment in amounts not to exceed the wage guide lines. The amendment was included as section 3 in the conference report (H. Rept. 92-745) on S. 2891 which was approved by both Houses on December 14, 1971, and was approved by the President on December 22, 1971, Public Law 92-210. SUPERGRADE POSITIONS AND APPOINTMENTS OUTSIDE THE COMPETITIVE SERVICE During the first session of the 92d Congress, numerous bills were considered by other committees of the House containing provisions which relate to matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. The provisions in question involved such matters as (1) the establishment of additional supergrade positions, (2) the establishment of entrance grades for certain personnel at a level two grades above the grade otherwise applicable, (3) the employment and fixing of compensation of personnel without regard to the existing statutory provisions governing the competitive service, the classification of positions, and the General Schedule, and (4) the inclusion of persons in the Executive Schedule without requiring that such persons be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The following specific actions were taken by this committee with respect to the provisions discussed above: (1) H.R. 11302 (National Cancer Attack Act of 1971) and H.R. 9264 (Special Action Office for Drug Prevention Act). Chairman Dulski advised the chairman of the two committees considering these bills of our opposition to certain objectionable provisions of the bills relating to supergrade and Executive Schedule positions and recommended that such provisions be deleted. In response to our request the objectionable language was deleted. (2) H.R. 7248 (Higher Education Act of 1971). During consideration by the House of H.R. 7248, members of our committee raised points of order against various provisions of the bill which pertained to matters falling within the jurisdiction of this committee. The points of order were sustained and the objectionable provisions were amended. (3) H.R. 5498 (National Environmental Laboratory Act of 1971) and H.R. 7374 (American Revolution Bicentennial Commission). Chairman Dulski has addressed letters to the chairmen of the two committees concerned advising them of our opposition 69-435-71-2 to various provisions of the bills and recommending that such provisions be deleted. To date, no action has been taken by the committees on these bills. (4) H.R. 11309 (Economic Stabilization Act Amendments). When introduced, this bill contained a provision which would have established an additional 40 supergrade positions without regard to the civil service laws. At our request the House Banking and Currency Committee deleted such provision from the bill. Subsequently, Chairman Dulski and Mr. Henderson introduced a bill. H.R. 11902, which would have established 40 additional supergrade positions to carry out the functions under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970. The bill also would have subjected such supergrades to the existing statutory procedures applicable to supergrade positions. A hearing was held on H.R. 11902 by our Subcommittee on Manpower and Civil Service. Following the hearing, the subcommittee agreed to authorize 20 supergrade positions instead of the original 40. In conformance with the subcommittee's action on H.R. 11902. amendments to H.R. 11309 were offered on the floor of the House by members of this committee. The amendments, providing for 20 supergrades, were agreed to by the House and subsequently were accepted by the conferees. LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY During the first session of the 92d Congress, 544 bills and 13 resolutions were referred to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. Of these, 39 bills and resolutions provided for commemorative stamps. The committee and its subcommittees conducted public hearings on several major subjects, including anti-obscenity legislation, wage board pay legislation, congressional relations with the Postal Service, hazardous duty retirement, and a review of the Federal employees health benefits program. Also, the full committee held briefings with the Postmaster General, the Postal Rate Commissioners, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, and the Comptroller General of the United States. Five public laws were enacted during the first session of the 92d Congress, based on committee action. The committee favorably reported 13 bills and one resolution, of which 11 passed the House. This act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to determine a retention balance in the trust fund account of the Postal Savings System (which was discontinued under Public Law 89-377) to pay future claims of rightful owners, and then to distribute the remaining surplus to the 54 jurisdictions (50 States and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam) on a pro rata basis. The pro rata basis as of each determination is the ratio of the balance of each State account to the dollar amount of the principal of the total remaining deposits. The first distribution would be made within 60 days after enactment, and subsequent distributions would be made on such dates as the Secretary of the Treasury may set during the following 4 years. The balance finally retained after the fifth annual distribution would be held available to pay future claims. Legislative history April 20, 1971.-Reported without amendment. H. Rept. 92–136. August 3, 1971.-Senate reported. S. Rept. 92-341. August 5, 1971.-Passed Senate, without amendment. Unanimous consent. August 13, 1971.-Approved, Public Law 92-117. Summary Public Law 92-143 (S. 932) COTTON GINNING REPORT DATES (Subcommittee on Census and Statistics) This act permits the completion of the cotton ginning reports, required under section 43, of title 13, United States Code, at the end of the cotton ginning season, but not later than the March canvass. Legislative history May 10, 1971.-Senate reported, S. Rept. 92–97. May 11, 1971.-Passed Senate without amendment. September 28, 1971.-House reported with amendment. H. Rept. 92-518. October 4, 1971.-Passed House with amendment on Consent Calendar. Public Law 92-187 (H.R. 3628) EQUALITY OF TREATMENT FOR MARRIED WOMEN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Summary (Subcommittee on Manpower and Civil Service) This act provides equality of treatment for married women employees of the Government with respect to preference eligible employment benefits and separate maintenance allowances in foreign areas, and provides that married women employees of the Government shall receive the same benefits as do married male employees under any law or regulation granting benefits to employees of the U.S. Government. Legislative history July 29, 1971.-Reported, amended. H. Rept. 92-415. August 2, 1971.-Passed House with committee amendments under suspension of the rules. Record vote 377 yeas to 11 nays. December 1, 1971.-Senate reported. S. Rept. 92-528. December 3, 1971.-Passed Senate. December 15, 1971.-Approved. Public Law 92-187. Public Law 92-190 (H.R. 9442) GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE POSITIONS Summary (Subcommittee on Manpower and Civil Service) This act authorizes the Comptroller General of the United States to fix compensation for five additional positions for the General Accounting Office at rates not to exceed the rate for executive schedule level IV. Legislative history July 29, 1971.-Reported. H. Rept. 92-418. August 2, 1971.-Passed House under suspension of the rules. December 3, 1971.-Passed Senate. December 15, 1971.-Approved. Public Law 92–190. |