Introduction of the District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced the District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Salary Home Rule Act. This bill would give the District of Columbia the authority to set the pay of the D.C. Chief Financial Officer (CFO). There is no reason the District should not have the authority to set the wage of a local official who is paid with local funds.

In 2013, Congress enacted a law that gave the District more authority to set the CFO's pay. However, Congress did not give D.C. full and complete authority over this local matter. This bill would give D.C. the authority to set the CFO's pay as it sees fit. The 2013 law amended the Home Rule Act to change the CFO's pay from a fixed rate of pay that was tied to a federal pay schedule to a maximum allowable pay, or ceiling, tied to a federal pay schedule. The ceiling was and is substantially higher than the fixed rate, but the CFO's pay is now $1,000 below the maximum.

I introduced the 2013 bill after a D.C. CFO search committee indicated that the fixed rate of pay was not high enough to attract the best talent needed for this complex and demanding job. The responsibilities of the CFO, a position created by Congress, are unique in the United States. The CFO is extraordinarily powerful and independent. The District cannot obligate or expend funds without the CFO's approval, and the CFO can be terminated only ``for cause.'' The District needs the authority to be able to pay the rate demanded by the market and necessary to retain and attract the best CFOs, especially since the District must compete with the private sector for highly qualified CFOs.

This is an important step to increase home rule for the District, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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