releases: https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-katko-legislation-fund-overtime-pay-secret
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-katko-legislation-fund-overtime-pay-secret | HOUSE PASSES BIPARTISAN KATKO LEGISLATION TO FUND OVERTIME PAY FOR SECRET SERVICE | 2017-12-05 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Republican | House | NY | John Katko | K000386 | katko.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a bipartisan vote today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee, to ensure that the men and women of the U.S. Secret Service are paid for the overtime they work in 2017 and 2018. Rep. Katko was joined by Rep. Elijah Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, as well as Reps. Trey Gowdy, Michael McCaul, Bennie Thompson, and Bonnie Watson-Coleman, in introducing H.R. 3731, the bipartisan Secret Service Recruitment and Retention Act of 2017. The Secret Service reports more than 1,000 agents—a third of the agent workforce—have already “maxed out” their annual overtime and salary under the pay cap set forth in 5 U.S.C. § 5547, which prohibits agents from being paid for overtime after reaching the maximum annual salary for the pay rate of GS-15. This bipartisan legislation would allow the Secret Service to cover additional overtime earned this year and the next up to level II of the Executive Schedule and require the Secret Service to submit a report to Congress on recruitment and retention efforts. Before the vote, Rep. Katko spoke on the floor of the House in support of the legislation. His remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below. “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3731, the Secret Service Recruitment and Retention Act of 2017, because I believe in the need to pay the hardworking men and women of the United States Secret Service for the critical work that they perform in dedication to the security of America’s leaders. While most Americans know the Secret Service for its role in protecting the President and First Family, many are unaware of the additional roles and countless hours worked by Special Agents, Uniformed Division Officers, technical personnel, and intelligence professionals. These jobs require extensive travel, often on short notice, as well as sometimes working multiple weeks in a row without a day off, because the security of our Nation’s leaders depends on their constant vigilance. “This legislation demonstrates an important recognition of the men and women who wake up every day to dedicate their lives to the protection of America’s leadership and financial systems. This agency has struggled to improve employee morale in recent years, due, in part, to strict overtime pay caps that prevent adequate compensation for their work. This, in turn, leads to challenges in retention and recruitment, further exacerbating staffing shortages. In 2017, the agency estimates that 1,200 employees will exceed the statutory pay cap, losing approximately $10 million in overtime pay unless Congress steps in to help. “I wish to thank each of the bipartisan cosponsors for their support of this bill, which took the cooperation of multiple Committees to bring to the Floor today. In particular, I would like to thank Chairman Goodlatte of the Judiciary Committee for bringing this legislation up today, as well as Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for marking up and supporting the bill in their Committee. Additionally, I would like to thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Thompson, and Ranking Member Watson Coleman of the Homeland Security Committee for their recognition of this legislation’s importance to the Secret Service and for their support. Further, I would like to explicitly thank two staffers who were truly instrumental in coordinating the movement of this bill, Kevin Ortiz of the Oversight Committee and Bobby Parmiter of the Judiciary Committee. “Mr. Speaker, this bill provides overdue relief to an agency whose dedication knows no bounds. As we enjoy this holiday season, I can think of no better Christmas gift to the hardworking men and women of the Secret Service than the compensation that is owed to them for their hard work in securing our nation. For that reason, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass this bill.” Congressman John Katko represents the 24th Congressional District of New York, which includes all of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Wayne Counties and the western portion of Oswego County. For more information visit https://katko.house.gov or www.facebook.com/RepJohnKatko. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |