United States 115th Congress Status: Passed House 1 R cosponsors

HR 1132 — Political Appointee Burrowing Prevention Act

Last action — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 673.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

255 added · 70 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to HR 1132 removes the section that included specific requirements for the head of an agency to certify that an appointment of a political appointee to a career position is necessary for meeting the agency's mission. Additionally, it eliminates the provision requiring the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance to deny requests unless it was determined that the appointment process was fair and free from political influence. These changes simplify the process for appointing political appointees to career positions by omitting detailed certification and review stipulations.

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1132 Referred in Senate (RFS)] <DOC> 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
1132 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
673 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
1132 _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 7, 2018 Received;
1132 [Report No.
read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for a 2-year prohibition on employment in a career civil service position for any former political appointee, and for other purposes.
115-387] _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 7, 2018 Received;
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs November 26, 2018 Reported by Mr.
Johnson, with an amendment and an amendment to the title [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for a 2-year prohibition on employment in a career civil service position for any former political appointee, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Political Appointee Burrowing Prevention Act''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
LIMITATION ON EMPLOYMENT OF POLITICAL APPOINTEES IN CAREER CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED>``Sec.
3115.
Employment of political appointees</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(a) Appointment Approval Required.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) In general.--The head of an agency may not appoint any individual described in paragraph (5) to a career position within the agency without receiving prior written approval from the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance, consistent with the requirements of this subsection.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Request.--The head of an agency shall submit a request to the Associate Director to approve the appointment of any individual described in paragraph (5) to a career position.
Any such request shall include certification by the head of the agency to the Associate Director that the appointment is necessary for the agency to meet its mission.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) Review and determination.--The Associate Director shall review any request received pursuant to paragraph (2) and deny any such request unless the Associate Director determines that the appointment process with respect to the request was fair, open, and free from political influence.
If the Associate Director makes that determination, the Associate Director may approve the request.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(4) Notification to congress.--With respect to any request approved under paragraph (3), the Associate Director shall, not less than five days before the date the Associate Director provides approval to the head of the requesting agency, provide to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate the agency certification under paragraph (2) and the agency head's rationale for that certification.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(5) Covered individuals.--An individual described in this paragraph is--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) a political appointee;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a former political appointee who held any political position during the 5-year period before the date of the request described in paragraph (2);
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(C) at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, a former political appointee who held any political position before the five-year period described in subparagraph (B).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(b) Restriction on Appointment.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, during the 2-year period following the date a political appointee leaves or departs from a political position, such appointee may not be appointed to any career position in the civil service.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a political appointee who has not personally and substantially participated in any particular matter while employed in a political position.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(c) Application.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the appointment of an individual who is-- </DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) entitled to reinstatement under section 3593(b);
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) eligible for reinstatement under section 3593(a).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(d) Definitions.--In this section--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) the term `agency' has the meaning given the term `Executive agency' in section 105;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) the term `Associate Director' means the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance at the Office of Personnel Management;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) the term `political appointee' means an individual serving in an appointment of any duration to a political position;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(4) the term `political position' means-- </DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) a position with respect to which appointment is made--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(i) by the President;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(ii) by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(C) a position described under sections through 5316 (relating to the Executive Schedule);
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(D) a general position in the Senior Executive Service during such time as it is filled by-- </DELETED> <DELETED> ``(i) a noncareer appointee, as defined in paragraph (7) of section 3132(a);
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(ii) a limited term appointee or limited emergency appointee, as defined in paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 3132(a), who is serving under a political appointment.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(5) the term `career position' means--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) a position in the competitive service filled by career or career-conditional appointment;</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a position in the excepted service filled by an appointment of equivalent tenure as a position described in subparagraph (A);</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(C) a career reserved position, as defined in paragraph (8) of section 3132(a), in the Senior Executive Service;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(D) a general position in the Senior Executive Service when filled by a career appointee, as defined in section 3132(a)(4);</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(6) the term `participated' means an action taken as an officer or employee through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation, or other such action;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(7) the term `particular matter' includes any investigation, application, request for a ruling or determination, rulemaking, contract, controversy, claim, charge, accusation, arrest, or judicial or other proceeding.''.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 3114 the following:</DELETED> <DELETED>``3115.
Employment of political appointees.''.
<DELETED> (c) Application.--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) Appointment requests.--Section 3115(a) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to any appointment or request for appointment described in such section submitted to the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance after the date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) Limitation on appointments.--Section 3115(b) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to any individual who leaves or departs from a political position (as that term is defined in section 3115(c)(2) of such title, as added by such subsection) after the date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED> <DELETED> (d) Regulations Required.--The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall issue regulations necessary to carry out this Act.
Such regulations shall include guidance on the definition of the term ``personally and substantially participated in a particular matter'' in section 3115(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), consistent with section 2641.201 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.</DELETED> SECTION 1.
3115.
3117.
Employment of political appointees ``(a) Appointment Approval Required.-- ``(1) In general.--The head of an agency may not appoint any individual described in paragraph (5) to a career position within the agency without receiving prior written approval from the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance, consistent with the requirements of this subsection.
Employment of political appointees ``(a) Appointment Approval Required.-- ``(1) In general.--The head of an agency may not appoint a covered individual to a career position within the agency without receiving prior written approval from the Associate Director, consistent with the requirements of this subsection.
``(2) Request.--The head of an agency shall submit a request to the Associate Director to approve the appointment of any individual described in paragraph (5) to a career position.
``(2) Request.--If the head of an agency wishes to appoint a covered individual to a career position, the head of the agency shall submit a request to the Associate Director to approve the appointment, which shall include a certification by the head of the agency to the Associate Director that-- ``(A) the career position would not involve confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating responsibilities (unless the career position is in the Senior Executive Service);
Any such request shall include certification by the head of the agency to the Associate Director that the appointment is necessary for the agency to meet its mission.
``(B) the appointment process was based on merit after a fair and open competition;
``(3) Review and determination.--The Associate Director shall review any request received pursuant to paragraph (2) and deny any such request unless the Associate Director determines that the appointment process with respect to the request was fair, open, and free from political influence.
and ``(C) the appointment process did not give any preference or special advantage to the covered individual based on a prior political appointment, political influence, or political affiliation.
If the Associate Director makes that determination, the Associate Director may approve the request.
``(3) Review and determination.-- ``(A) In general.--The Associate Director shall-- ``(i) review each request received pursuant to paragraph (2);
``(4) Notification to congress.--With respect to any request approved under paragraph (3), the Associate Director shall, not less than five days before the date the Associate Director provides approval to the head of the requesting agency, provide to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate the agency certification under paragraph (2) and the agency head's rationale for that certification.
and ``(ii) make a favorable or unfavorable determination whether, with respect to the request, the position classification and qualifications requirements and the appointment process were fair, open, and free from political influence.
``(5) Covered individuals.--An individual described in this paragraph is-- ``(A) a political appointee;
``(B) Approval.--If the Associate Director makes a favorable determination under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Associate Director may approve the request.
``(B) a former political appointee who held any political position during the 5-year period before the date of the request described in paragraph (2);
``(C) Denial.--If the Associate Director makes an unfavorable determination under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Associate Director shall deny the request.
or ``(C) at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, a former political appointee who held any political position before the five-year period described in subparagraph (B).
``(4) Notification to congress.--With respect to any request approved under paragraph (3), the Associate Director shall, not later than 5 days before the date the Associate Director provides the approval to the head of the requesting agency, submit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate the certification under paragraph (2) relating to the request and the rationale of the head of the agency for the certification.
``(b) Restriction on Appointment.-- ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, during the 2-year period following the date a political appointee leaves or departs from a political position, such appointee may not be appointed to any career position in the civil service.
``(b) Probationary Period.-- ``(1) In general.--A covered individual shall complete a 2- year period of probation before an appointment to a career position in the competitive service approved under subsection (a) becomes final.
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a political appointee who has not personally and substantially participated in any particular matter while employed in a political position.
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to-- ``(A) a political appointee who has not personally and substantially participated in any particular policy-making activity or similar matter while employed in a political position;
or ``(B) a political appointee who has previously held a career position in the competitive service and successfully completed a probationary period for that position under section 3321.
``(2) the term `Associate Director' means the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance at the Office of Personnel Management;
``(2) the term `Associate Director' means-- ``(A) the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance of the Office of Personnel Management;
``(3) the term `political appointee' means an individual serving in an appointment of any duration to a political position;
or ``(B) if the Associate Director described in subparagraph (A) is not responsible for carrying out the authorities under section 1104(b)(2), the Associate Director of the Office of Personnel Management responsible for carrying out such authorities;
``(4) the term `political position' means-- ``(A) a position with respect to which appointment is made-- ``(i) by the President;
``(3) the term `career position' means-- ``(A) a position in the competitive service filled by a career or career-conditional appointment;
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``(B) a position in the excepted service filled by an appointment of equivalent tenure as a position described in subparagraph (A);
``(C) a career reserved position, as defined in paragraph (8) of section 3132(a), in the Senior Executive Service;
or ``(D) a general position in the Senior Executive Service filled by a career appointee, as defined in section 3132(a)(4);
``(4) the term `covered individual' means-- ``(A) a political appointee;
``(B) a former political appointee who held any political position during the 5-year period before the date of the request described in subsection (a)(2);
or ``(C) at the discretion of the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, a former political appointee who held any political position before the 5- year period described in subparagraph (B);
``(5) the term `participated' means an action taken as an officer or employee through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation, or other such action;
``(6) the term `particular matter' includes any investigation, application, request for a ruling or determination, rulemaking, contract, controversy, claim, charge, accusation, arrest, or judicial or other proceeding;
``(7) the term `political appointee' means an individual serving in an appointment of any duration to a political position;
and ``(8) the term `political position' means-- ``(A) a position with respect to which appointment is made-- ``(i) by the President;
and ``(D) a general position in the Senior Executive Service during such time as it is filled by-- ``(i) a noncareer appointee, as defined in paragraph (7) of section 3132(a);
or ``(D) a general position in the Senior Executive Service filled by-- ``(i) a noncareer appointee, as defined in paragraph (7) of section 3132(a);
or ``(ii) a limited term appointee or limited emergency appointee, as defined in paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 3132(a), who is serving under a political appointment.
or ``(ii) a limited term appointee or limited emergency appointee, as defined in paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 3132(a), who is serving under a political appointment.''.
``(5) the term `career position' means-- ``(A) a position in the competitive service filled by career or career-conditional appointment;
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 3116 the following:
``(B) a position in the excepted service filled by an appointment of equivalent tenure as a position described in subparagraph (A);
``3117.
``(C) a career reserved position, as defined in paragraph (8) of section 3132(a), in the Senior Executive Service;
or ``(D) a general position in the Senior Executive Service when filled by a career appointee, as defined in section 3132(a)(4);
``(6) the term `participated' means an action taken as an officer or employee through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice, investigation, or other such action;
and ``(7) the term `particular matter' includes any investigation, application, request for a ruling or determination, rulemaking, contract, controversy, claim, charge, accusation, arrest, or judicial or other proceeding.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 31 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 3114 the following:
``3115.
(c) Application.-- (1) Appointment requests.--Section 3115(a) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to any appointment or request for appointment described in such section submitted to the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Application.-- (1) Appointment requests.--Section 3117(a) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to any appointment or request for appointment described in such section submitted to the Associate Director of Merit Systems Accountability and Compliance after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Limitation on appointments.--Section 3115(b) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to any individual who leaves or departs from a political position (as that term is defined in section 3115(c)(2) of such title, as added by such subsection) after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Limitation on appointments.--Section 3117(b) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to any individual who leaves or departs from a political position (as that term is defined in section 3117 of such title, as added by such subsection) after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Regulations Required.--The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall issue regulations necessary to carry out this Act.
(d) Regulations Required.--The Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Office of Special Counsel, shall issue regulations necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, which shall include guidance on the definition of the term ``personally and substantially participated in a particular policy-making activity or similar matter'' in section 3117(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), consistent with section 2641.201 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
Such regulations shall include guidance on the definition of the term ``personally and substantially participated in a particular matter'' in section 3115(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), consistent with section 2641.201 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
Amend the title so as to read:
Passed the House of Representatives March 6, 2018.
``An Act to amend title 5, United States Code, to appropriately limit employment in a career civil service position for political appointees and former political appointees, and for other purposes.''.
Attest:
Calendar No.
KAREN L.
673 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H.
HAAS, Clerk.
R.
1132 [Report No.
115-387] _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for a 2-year prohibition on employment in a career civil service position for any former political appointee, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ November 26, 2018 Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the title
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Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

  4. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  5. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  6. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-439.

  7. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-439.

  8. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 325.

  9. Mr. Blum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1414-1416)

  11. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1132.

  12. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1414-1415)

  13. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1414-1415)

  14. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  15. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

  16. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  17. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 115-387.

  18. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 115-387.

  19. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 673.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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civil-rights labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HR 1132?
HR 1132 is sponsored by Buck, Ken (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 1132?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 1132?
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