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<PRE>[DOCID: f:h3551ih.txt]
107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3551

To provide that, in establishing wage schedules for certain prevailing 
    rate employees with respect to whom the Government is currently 
   experiencing recruitment and retention problems, rates of pay for 
 comparable positions in the nearest, most similar wage area shall be 
                          taken into account.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2001

  Mr. Wicker introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide that, in establishing wage schedules for certain prevailing 
    rate employees with respect to whom the Government is currently 
   experiencing recruitment and retention problems, rates of pay for 
 comparable positions in the nearest, most similar wage area shall be 
                          taken into account.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. METHODOLOGY FOR ESTABLISHING CERTAIN WAGE SCHEDULES.

    (a) In General.--For purposes of applying section 5343(d) of title 
5, United States Code, with respect to prevailing rate employees of the 
Department of Defense within the Northern Mississippi Wage Grade Area, 
all wage schedules and rates for such employees shall be established--
            (1) in accordance with paragraph (2)(A) thereof (rather 
        than paragraph (1) or (2)(B) thereof); and
            (2) deeming all conditions for the application of such 
        paragraph (2)(A) to have been met.
    (b) Commencement Date.--Wage schedules and rates satisfying the 
requirements of subsection (a) shall be established, and shall apply 
with respect to wages for service performed in pay periods beginning, 
no later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Termination.--
            (1) In general.--The requirements of subsection (a) shall 
        remain in effect until such time as, upon written request of 
        the lead agency for the Northern Mississippi Wage Grade Area 
        (together with supporting documentation), the Office of 
        Personnel Management determines that the recruitment and 
        retention problems giving rise to this Act no longer exist.
            (2) Consultation.--Any determination under paragraph (1) 
        shall be made in consultation with the Federal Prevailing Rate 
        Advisory Committee under section 5347 of title 5, United States 
        Code.
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