92 STAT. 1182
5 USC 5941.
5 USC 5403.
Presidential cash awards.
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Payment of awards.
PUBLIC LAW 95-454—OCT. 13, 1978 applicable to positions not covenid by the merit pay system in the same grade as the position; or " (B) such greater amount of such percentage of such adjustment in the annual rate of pay as may be determined by the Office. " (2) Any employee whose position is brought under the merit pay system shall, so long as the employee continues to occupy the position, be entitled to receive basic pay at a rate of basic pay not less than the rate the employee was receiving when the position was brought under the merit pay system, plus any subsequent adjustment under paragraph (1) of this subsection. " (3) No employee to whom this chapter applies may be paid less than the minimum rate of basic pay of the grade of the employee's position. " (d) Under regulations prescribed by the Office, the benefit of advancement through the range of basic pay for a g r a d e shall be preserved for any employee covered by the merit pay system whose continuous service is interrupted in the public interest by service with the armed forces, or by service in essential non-Government civilian employment during a period of war or national emergency. " (e) For the purpose of section 5941 of this title, rates of basic pay of employees covered by the merit pay system shall be considered rates of basic pay fixed by statute. "§5403. Cash award program " (a) The head of any agency may pay a cash award to, and incur necessary expenses for the honorary recognition of, any employee covered by the merit pay system who— " (1) by the employee's suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other personal effort, contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations or achieves a significant reduction in p a p e r w o r k; or " (2) performs a special act or service in the public interest in connection with or related to the employee's Federal employment. " (b) The President may pay a cash award to, and incur necessary expenses for the honorary recognition of, any employee covered by the merit pay system who— " (1) by the employee's suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other personal effort, contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations or achieves a significant reduction in p a p e r w o r k; or " (2) performs an exceptionally meritorious special act or service in the public interest in connection with or related to the employee's Federal employment. A Presidential cash award may be in addition to an agency cash award under subsection (a) of this section. " (c) A cash award to any employee under this section is in addition to the basic pay of the employee under section 5402 of this title. Acceptance of a cash award under this section constitutes an agreement that the use by the Government of any idea, method, or device for which the award is made does not form the basis of any claim of any nature against the Government by the employee accepting the award, or the employee's heirs or assigns. " (d) A cash award to, and expenses for the honorary recognition of, any employee covered by the merit pay system may be paid from the fund or appropriation available to the activity primarily benefiting, or the various activities benefiting, from the suggestion, invention,
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