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S. 185 103rd Congress Senate

Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993

Official title: A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to restore to Federal civilian employees their right to participate voluntarily, as private citizens, in the polit… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to restore to Federal civilian employees their right to participate voluntarily, as private citizens, in the political processes of the Nation, to protect such employees from improper political solicitations, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 18, 1993 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedureAmerican economic assistanceAmerican military assistanceCampaign funds
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Congressional agenciesCongressional candidatesCostsCrime and Law EnforcementDebtor and creditorDepartment of DefenseDepartment of JusticeDisciplining of employeesDismissal of employeesDistrict of ColumbiaElection administrationElection candidatesFederal Election CommissionFederal employeesFederal office buildingsFederal officialsFund raisingGarnishmentGovernment employee unionsGovernment employees' political activitiesGovernmental investigationsInsurgencyLocal officials and employeesMarylandMembers of CongressMilitary payMisconduct in officeNicaraguaNonprofit organizationsOffice of Personnel ManagementPersonnel managementPolitical action committeesPolitical partiesPolitical rightsPostal employeesPresidential appointmentsPromotionsState officials and employeesTerrorismVirginiaVoting
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This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 20, 1993
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Jul 20, 1993
Senate passed companion measure H.R. 20 in lieu of this measure by Yea-Nay Vote. 68-31. Record Vote No: 201.
Jul 20, 1993
Senate incorporated this measure in H.R. 20 as an amendment.
Jul 20, 1993
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S8919-8952)
Jul 15, 1993
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S8759-8771, S8779-8780, S8782-8790, S8792-8793, S8795-8796, S8805-8813)
Jul 14, 1993
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S8670-8671, S8676-8689, S8692-8699, S8702-8705)
Jul 13, 1993
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8601-8616)
Jul 13, 1993
First and second cloture motion on the motion to proceed withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (consideration: CR S8579)
Jul 1, 1993
Second cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S8561)
Jul 1, 1993
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S8562)
Jul 1, 1993
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (consideration: CR S8561)
Jun 16, 1993
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 95.
Jun 16, 1993
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Glenn with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 103-57. Additional and minority views filed.
May 13, 1993
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 11, 1993
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.
Apr 30, 1993
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-771.
Apr 27, 1993
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.
Jan 26, 1993
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Jan 26, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S697-698)
Jan 26, 1993
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 39

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

13 agreed to 26 with no recorded outcome

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 602 – To provide that employees of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice may not take an active part i… Agreed to Jul 20, 1993
SAMDT 601 – To provide that Federal employees may not solicit, accept, or receive political contributions. Agreed to Jul 20, 1993
SAMDT 600 – To provide that revenue agents, tax auditors, and tax examiners of the Internal Revenue Service may not take … Agreed to Jul 20, 1993
SAMDT 597 – The sense of the Senate that the President should submit the supplementary budget as required by law no later… Agreed to Jul 20, 1993
SAMDT 599 – To provide that the current provisions of subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United States Code, shall … Agreed to Jul 15, 1993
SAMDT 598 – To modify the committee amendment. Agreed to Jul 15, 1993
SAMDT 596 – To express the sense of the Senate that assistance to Nicaragua be halted. Agreed to Jul 15, 1993
SAMDT 568 – To provide for the promulgation of regulations to garnish the pay of members of the uniformed services, and f… Agreed to Jul 14, 1993
SAMDT 567 – To provide military personnel the same political freedoms as civilian personnel. Agreed to Jul 14, 1993
SAMDT 566 – To provide that the employees of the Executive Branch, and the Postal Service may select either current law o… Agreed to Jul 14, 1993
SAMDT 565 – To express the sense of the Senate that Federal employees should not be authorized to solicit political contr… Agreed to Jul 14, 1993
SAMDT 564 – To provide that employees of the District of Columbia shall remain covered under the provisions of the Hatch … Agreed to Jul 14, 1993
SAMDT 563 – To clarify the penalties for a violation of the Act. Agreed to Jul 14, 1993
SAMDT 595 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 594 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 593 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 592 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 591 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 590 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 589 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 588 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 587 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 586 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 585 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 584 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 583 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 582 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 581 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 580 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 579 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 578 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 577 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 576 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 575 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 574 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 573 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 572 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 571 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 570 – – No recorded outcome –
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 Latest action July 20, 1993

Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993 - Amends Federal civil service law to declare that a Federal or District of Columbia employee may take an active part in political management or in political campaigns, except that he or she may not: (1) use official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election; (2) knowingly solicit, accept, or receive a political contribution from any person, unless such person is a member of the same Federal labor organization or a Federal employee organization with a multicandidate political committee (PAC), such person is not a subordinate employee, and the solicitation is for a contribution to the organization's PAC; (3) run for nomination or election to a partisan political office; or (4) knowingly solicit or discourage the participation in any political activity of any person who has an application for any compensation, grant, contract, ruling, license, permit, or certificate pending before his or her employing office, or who is the subject of, or a participant in, an ongoing audit, investigation, or enforcement action carried out by such employing office.

Sets forth special prohibitions for employees of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and other specified Federal entities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Merit Systems Protection Board, who are not presidential appointees.

States that Federal and District of Columbia employees retain the right to vote as they choose and to express their political opinions.

Prohibits any employee (except certain political appointees in specified circumstances) from engaging in political activity: (1) while on duty; (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee or official; (3) while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying his or her office or position; or (4) while using any vehicle owned or leased by the Government.

Authorizes the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to prescribe regulations permitting employees residing in the immediate vicinity of the District of Columbia in Maryland or Virginia, or in a municipality where the majority of voters are Federal employees, to participate in political management and political campaigns involving their area of residence, if OPM determines that such political participation is in their domestic interest.

Sets forth penalties for violations of political activity prohibitions.

(Sec. 4) Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful for any person to coerce or attempt to coerce any Federal employee to engage or not engage in any political activity.

(Sec. 5) Subjects certain provisions under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 concerning Federal voting examiners to the amendments made by this Act.

(Sec. 6) Repeals provisions under the Community Service Block Grant Act relating to the coverage of employees of nonprofit private organizations under such provisions governing political activity of certain State and local employees.

(Sec. 7) Includes U.S. Postal Service, Postal Rate Commission, and District of Columbia employees within the coverage of the amendments made above by this Act.

(Sec. 8) Establishes procedures for consideration of any recommendations of Senators and Representatives for positions in the competitive service that do not violate specified prohibitions.

(Sec. 9) Amends Federal civil service law to provide for garnishment of the pay of Federal employees and members of the uniformed services in specified circumstances.

(Sec. 10) Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) Federal employees should not be authorized to solicit political contributions from the general public or run for the nomination or as a candidate for a local partisan political office, except as provided under current law; (2) no further U.S. foreign assistance to Nicaragua should be obligated pending an appropriate investigation by an international body; and (3) such investigation should focus on the relationship of the Sandinista National Liberation Front to terrorist acts that threaten U.S. security and political stability and economic prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 185: Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-185/
MLA
"S. 185: Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-185/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 185, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-185/.
Markdown link
[S. 185: Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-S-185/)
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