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House Passes NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act to Adjust Executive Compensation Authority
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Key points
- Representative Rob Menendez introduced HR 9614 to update nuclear agency pay scales.
- The bill permits basic pay up to 110 percent of Senior Executive Service limits for career appointees.
- The U.S. House passed the legislation on November 10, 2026, sending it to the Senate.
NewsWK — The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved new legislation regarding federal regulatory salaries. Representative Robert “Rob” Menendez sponsored the NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act to address compensation limits. fix the basic pay of certain career appointees
How will HR 9614 alter Nuclear Regulatory Commission pay?
House bill HR 9614 grants the agency chief authority to boost salaries for top career personnel. The legislation modifies the historic Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and recent 2024 nuclear legislation. Therefore, executive leadership can set annual pay rates up to 110 percent of Senior Executive Service caps.
Lawmakers advanced the measure to the Senate following a House vote on November 10, 2026. Meanwhile, committee members had previously cleared the proposal by voice vote in July.
Why does the Rob Menendez NRC bill adjust NRC career appointee pay?
The Rob Menendez NRC bill ensures high-level experts stay in regulatory roles. These expanded compensation rules apply to senior career officials regardless of their hiring dates. Also, the revised salary cap will not interfere with agency performance appraisal certifications.
What key timeline milestones shaped the NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act?
The legislative path for this federal bill moved forward quickly in 2026. Rep. Menendez introduced the measure on July 9, 2026. Next, the Subcommittee on Energy approved the text on July 14, 2026. The House Energy and Commerce Committee reported the bill on November 5, 2026. Then, the full House passed the bill on November 10, 2026, and sent it to the Senate.
- Rep. Rob Menendez introduced the bill on July 9, 2026.
- The measure permits pay rates up to 110 percent of Senior Executive Service limits.
- The House passed the engrossed bill on November 10, 2026.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: House Advances NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act to Increase Senior Nuclear Regulator Compensation
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