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119-hr-1973119th CongressWALLET

No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

Sponsored By: Representative Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Introduced

Summary

Automatically cut Members of Congress pay for each day the debt limit is reached or a government shutdown lasts. The bill would take effect for days occurring after the November 2026 general election.

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  • Members of Congress would have pay reduced by one day's pay for each 24-hour period affected, using the daily equivalent of the annual rate set under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
  • For the 119th Congress payroll offices would withhold the equivalent amounts into an escrow account and release them on the last day of that Congress to comply with the Twenty-Seventh Amendment.
  • The bill names the House Chief Administrative Officer and the Secretary of the Senate as payroll administrators and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to assist with implementation.
  • It defines "debt limit reached" as when the government cannot make payments and applies the same daily-reduction method to government shutdowns.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Members lose pay during shutdowns or default

If enacted, Members of Congress would have their annual pay reduced for each 24‑hour period the public debt limit is reached or a government shutdown is in effect. Each day’s reduction would equal one day’s pay based on the annual rate under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (the daily equivalent). This reduction rule would apply to days occurring after the regularly scheduled November 2026 general election. For the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, payroll officials would withhold the same daily amounts into an escrow account and then release remaining escrowed funds on the last day of that Congress to preserve compliance with the Twenty‑Seventh Amendment. The Secretary of the Treasury would provide help to payroll administrators to carry out these rules.

Definitions and payroll officials named

If enacted, the bill would define key terms and name who runs payroll. A "Government shutdown" would mean a lapse in appropriations when Congress fails to pass a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution. The "public debt limit reached" would mean the government is unable to make payments under 31 U.S.C. 3101. The bill would define "Member of Congress" by reference to positions under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act and name the House Chief Administrative Officer and the Secretary of the Senate (or their designees) as payroll administrators.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

VA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/21/2025

  • Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

  • Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/3/2025

  • Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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