Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Contempt Act”.
Contempt Act
A BILL
To direct the employing authority of any officer or employee of the Federal Government who is in contempt of Congress to not pay compensation to the officer or employee while the officer or employee remains in contempt, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 No payment of compensation for Federal employees in contempt of Congress
No Payment Permitted— If an officer or employee of the Federal Government is in a period of contempt of Congress during any pay period, the head of the employing authority of the employee shall not pay the compensation otherwise required to be paid to the officer or employee for such pay period.
Definitions— In this Act—
the term “officer” has the meaning given such term in section 2104 of title 5, United States Code; and
the term “employee” has the meaning given such term in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code.
Sec. 3 Period of contempt of Congress described
Period Described— For purposes of this Act, a “period of contempt of Congress” is, with respect to an officer or employee of the Federal Government, any of the following:
The period which begins on the date on which a resolution holding the officer or employee in contempt is adopted by the House of Representatives or Senate and ends on the date on which a resolution revoking such contempt is adopted by the House or Senate (as the case may be).
The period which begins on the date on which a statement of contempt described in subsection (b) is filed in the House of Representatives or Senate with respect to the officer or employee and which ends on the date on which a statement withdrawing such statement of contempt is filed with the House or Senate (as the case may be).
Statement of Contempt Described— In this Act, a “statement of contempt” is, with respect to an individual, a statement of fact which has been filed with the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives under section 104 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 194) that the individual has failed to appear, testify, produce information, or answer pertinent questions when summoned by Congress or a committee of Congress.