“In order to complete the implementation of the policy of the Congress set forth in paragraph (2) of section 5301 of title 5, United States Code, the President, after seeking the views of such employee organizations as he considers appropriate and in such manner as he may provide, shall—“(1) effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after July 1, 1968, adjust the rates of basic pay, basic compensation, and salary, as in effect by reason of the enactment of the provisions of this title [see Short Title note under section 5332 of this title] other than this section and sections 205, 210, 213, 214, 215, and 219—“(A) by amounts equal, as nearly as may be practicable, to one-half of the amounts by which such rates are exceeded by rates of pay paid for the same levels of work in private enterprise as determined on the basis of the 1967 annual survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in accordance with the provisions of section 5302 of title 5, United States Code, or
“(B) by 3 per centum,
whichever is greater; and
“(2) effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after July 1, 1969, adjust the rates he has established under subparagraph (1) of this section, and the rates established by Postal Field Service Schedule II, and Rural Carrier Schedule II (contained in the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) of section 205 [amending sections 3542 and 3543 of Title 39, Postal Service], by amounts equal, as nearly as may be practicable, to the amounts by which such rates are exceeded by rates of pay paid for the same levels of work in private enterprise as determined on the basis of the 1968 annual survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in accordance with the provisions of section 5302 of title 5, United States Code.
Adjustments made by the President under this section shall have the force and effect of statute. The rates of pay of personnel subject to sections 210, 213 (except subsections (d) and (e) ), and 214 of this title [see Short Title note under section 5332 of this title], and any minimum or maximum rate, limitation, or allowance applicable to any such personnel, shall be adjusted, by amounts which are equal, insofar as practicable and with such exceptions as may be necessary to provide for appropriate relationships between positions, to the amounts of the adjustments made by the President under subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this section, by the following authorities—
“(i) the President pro tempore of the Senate, with respect to the United States Senate;
“(ii) the Speaker of the House of Representatives with respect to the United States House of Representatives;
“(iii) the Architect of the Capitol, with respect to the Office of the Architect of the Capitol;
“(iv) the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, with respect to the judicial branch of the Government; and
“(v) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to persons employed by the county committees established pursuant to section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b) ).
Such adjustments shall be made in such manner as the appropriate authority concerned deems advisable and shall have the force and effect of statute. Nothing in this section shall impair any authority pursuant to which rates of pay may be fixed by administrative action.” [Section 212 of Pub. L. 90–206 effective Dec. 16, 1967, see section 220(a)(1) of Pub. L. 90–206, set out as a note under section 3110 of this title.]