Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Amendments of 1983
Public Law 98-168 · H.R. 2077 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 29, 1983 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Mary Oakar (D-OH-20)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 244 yea, 127 nay244–127
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Title I: Physicians Comparability Allowance - Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Amendments of 1983 - Extends the authority of Federal agencies to enter into service agreements providing comparability allowances to Federal physicians.
Relieves any such physician whose aggregate pay for FY 1982 exceeded the statutory limitation on pay for senior executive (the rate payable for positions at level I of the Executive Schedule) of liability for the amount of any comparability allowance received by such physician. Requires the appropriate agency to pay to such physician any amount paid by or withheld from such physician with respect to such relieved liability, provided the physician applies for such payment within two years after enactment of this Act.
Title II: Federal Employees Retirement Adjustment - Federal Employees' Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983 - Limits to 1.3 percent the amount of an employee's basic pay that a Federal agency may deduct as such employee's contribution to a Federal retirement system, if such employee is required to pay employment taxes for Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance benefits (covered employee). Applies such limitation with respect to service performed after December 31, 1983 and before the earlier of the effective date of a new Government retirement system or January 1, 1986 (interim period).
Requires each agency: (1) during such interim period to continue to contribute the amount it was required to contribute toward an employee's retirement before enactment of this Act; and (2) at the end of FY 1984, 1985, and 1986, to notify the Secretary of the Treasury of the amount by which the sum that would have been deducted and withheld from all employees in such fiscal year had this Act not been enacted, plus the interest such sum would have earned, exceeds the sum actually deducted and withheld under this Act. Directs the Secretary to credit such amount to the appropriate retirement fund at the end of the fiscal year involved.
Sets forth the following situations under which the interim period service of a covered employee who is employed by the Government on December 31, 1983, shall be considered in determining the employee's annuity under an existing retirement system, if the employee deposits to the credit of such system the amount needed to meet the total amount such employee would have deposited had this title not been enacted (deficiency amount): (1) the new retirement system is not established; (2) the employee retires and his or her annuity commences before the earlier of the date the new system takes effect or January 1, 1986; or (3) the employee retires or dies after the new system takes effect but the new system is inapplicable to the employee. Declares that the interim period service of such an employee shall be considered in computing a disability or survivor annuity which commences under an existing retirement system during such period, provided that such an annuity shall be reduced by the amount of OASDI benefits payable to such employee and attributable to such service unless the deficiency amount is deposited before such annuity commences.
Requires any annuity which is based, in any part, on interim period service and which is payable under an existing retirement system to a covered employee who was not employed by the Government on December 31, 1983, to be reduced by the amount of OASDI benefits payable to such employee and attributable to such service. Requires such an employee to deposit the deficiency amount in order to receive credit for interim period service under an existing retirement system if the new retirement system is not established.
Authorizes the survivor of a covered employee to make the deposit of the deficiency amount required under this Act for an annuity based on interim period service.
Requires that the amount by which an annuity is reduced to offset OASDI benefits be redetermined each time such benefits are increased. Requires that such reduction be calculated on the basis of the annuity amount before taking out any amount to pay an annuity to a former spouse.
Subjects any covered employee who becomes a civilian Government employee on or after January 1, 1984, to the new Government retirement system upon its establishment.
Transfer to such new system the creditable service of any covered employee who is subject to an existing retirement system on or after January 1, 1984, and who becomes subject to such new system.
Authorizes certain Federal officials and employees who were serving on or before December 31, 1983, and who will be subject to taxation for OASDI benefits as of January 1, 1984 (including the President and Vice President, Members of Congress, individuals in Executive Schedule positions, noncareer members of the Senior Executive Service or the Senior Foreign Service, and judges) to elect to: (1) terminate participation in an existing retirement system or remain under such system as if this Act had not been enacted; or (2) become a participant under such system (if otherwise eligible) either subject to this Act or as if this Act had not been enacted. Provides that such persons who fail to make such an election shall be subject to the preceding provisions of this Act.
Title III: Senior Executive Service - Directs the Office of Personnel Management to submit a report to each House of Congress within one year on the effect that the pay cap for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions has had on the recruitment, retention, and morale of senior executives.
Requires the annual report on the SES by the Office of Management and Budget to disclose which individuals received performance awards or presidential ranks, the amount of such awards, the justification for such awards, the number of such awards conferred in each agency, and the percentage of career appointees in each agency who received each type of award.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 98th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 245 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
245 yea127 nay62 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(175)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-28
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Sala BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-17
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
- Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-17
- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Charles HayesD-IL-1
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-6
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-20
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Alan WheatD-MO-5
- Rep. Katie HallD-IN-1
- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-12
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
Rep. Barbara BoxerD-CA-6- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Meldon LevineD-CA-27
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-10- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-11
- Rep. Richard LehmanD-CA-18
- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-10
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-8
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-18
- Rep. Frank HarrisonD-PA-11
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-33
- Rep. Bruce MorrisonD-CT-3
- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-21
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Howard WolpeD-MI-3
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Lawrence SmithD-FL-16
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-19
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-22
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-17- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. John BryantD-TX-5
- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-19
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. William RichardsonD-NM-3
- Rep. Jim MoodyD-WI-5
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Joseph KolterD-PA-4
Rep. Harry ReidD-NV-1- Rep. Ronald ColemanD-TX-16
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-34
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-8
- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Francis McCloskeyD-IN-8
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Gerald SikorskiD-MN-6
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-3
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-6
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD
- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Charles WhitleyD-NC-3
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Richard DurbinD-IL-20- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-14
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-4- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Robin TallonD-SC-6
- Rep. James RowlandD-GA-8
- Rep. Timothy PennyD-MN-1
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Robert ThomasD-GA-1
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-23
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-5
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Thomas CarperD-DE- Rep. Buddy MacKayD-FL-6
- Rep. Tim ValentineD-NC-2
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Ben ErdreichD-AL-6
- Rep. Buddy DardenD-GA-7
- Rep. James OlinD-VA-6
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-11- Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Republicans who voted yea(70)
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-29
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-25
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-7
- Rep. Lyle WilliamsR-OH-17
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. John McKernanR-ME-1
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-4
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
- Rep. Rodney ChandlerR-WA-8
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Guy MolinariR-NY-14
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. John PorterR-IL-10
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10- Rep. Raymond McGrathR-NY-5
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
- Rep. James CourterR-NJ-12
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Thomas LewisR-FL-12
- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. William FranklinR-MS-2
- Rep. Bobbi FiedlerR-CA-21
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
- Rep. Donald RitterR-PA-15
- Rep. William LoweryR-CA-41
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-3
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-13
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Hal DaubR-NE-2
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-20
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-14
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-5
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Pat RobertsR-KS-1
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-42- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 484 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee · Senate · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 26 actions.
- Nov 29, 1983Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-168.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 17, 1983PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 16, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 244 - 127 (Record Vote No: 519).House roll call 519
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Yea-Nay Vote: 244 - 127 (Record Vote No: 519).House roll call 519
- Nov 12, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 98-542 Filed in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 98-542 Filed in House.
- Nov 11, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Nov 10, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report S. Rept. 98-307 filed in Senate by Senator Stevens on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the amendment of the House to the amendment of the Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report S. Rept. 98-307 filed in Senate by Senator Stevens on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the amendment of the House to the amendment of the Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. Stevens; Mathias; Bingaman.
- FloorFloor · Senate insists on its amendments to the House amendment to the Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 9, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Ford (MI), Udall, Oakar, Taylor, Gilman.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments to House Amendments to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Nov 4, 1983Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate concurred in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment (SP 2504) by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Concurred, in Senate Amendments , with Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 30, 1983FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Sep 27, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Sep 23, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services Subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Sep 20, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
- Sep 19, 1983FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Mar 18, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- Mar 11, 1983CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.