Introduced in House — H.R. 9614

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9614

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 9, 2026

Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide compensation authority for certain career appointees, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act.

Sec. 2. Compensation authority for career appointees

(a) In general

Section 161B of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2201b) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as subsections (e) through (i), respectively;

(2)

by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

(d) Compensation authority for career appointees
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Chairman may fix the compensation of a career appointee at an annual rate of basic pay that is not greater than 110 percent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for Senior Executive Service positions within the Commission established under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Applicability
The authority to fix the compensation of a career appointee under paragraph (1) shall apply regardless of when the career appointee was appointed.
(3) Effect on certain certification
The exercise of the authority to fix the compensation of a career appointee under paragraph (1) may not affect the certification of any performance appraisal system of the Commission under section 5307(d) of title 5, United States Code.
(4) Career appointee defined
In this subsection, the term career appointee has the meaning given such term in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code.;

(3)

in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), in paragraph (2)(C)—

(A)

in clause (ii)—

(i)

in each of subclauses (I) and (III), by striking subsection (g)(1) each place it appears and inserting subsection (h)(1); and

(ii)

in each of subclauses (II) and (IV), by striking subsection (g)(2) each place it appears and inserting subsection (h)(2);

(B)

in clause (iv), by striking and at the end;

(C)

by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and

(D)

by inserting after clause (iv) the following:

(v)
the total number of career appointees that have their compensation fixed pursuant to subsection (d); and; and

(4)

in subsection (i) (as so redesignated)—

(A)

in each of paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking subsections (a) and (b) each place it appears and inserting subsections (a), (b), and (d);

(B)

in paragraph (2), by striking or both subsections and inserting subsection (d), or any combination of those subsections; and

(C)

in paragraph (3)—

(i)

by inserting , or a career appointee, after compensation of an employee or other personnel serving in a covered position; and

(ii)

by striking subsection (a) or (b) and inserting subsection (a), (b), or (d).

(b) Conforming amendment relating to Government Accountability Office report

Section 502(b) of the ADVANCE Act of 2024 is amended by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) each place it appears and inserting subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d).