Inaction Has Consequences Act

Congress pay held if budgets late

If enacted, starting in fiscal year 2026, pay for Members would go into escrow when their chamber has not passed all regular spending bills on the first day of the fiscal year. The escrow would end when that chamber passes all the bills or when that Congress ends. Taxes and other withholdings would still be taken while pay is held. Any remaining escrow would be released at the end of the Congress, consistent with the Twenty-Seventh Amendment. “Member” would include Delegates and the Resident Commissioner, and the House Chief Administrative Officer and the Secretary of the Senate would run the escrow.