H.R. 5891: Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act

This bill, titled the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, proposes to reduce the salary of Members of Congress if there is a government shutdown, defined as a lapse in appropriations for one or more federal agencies. Here are the key components of the bill:

Definitions

• Government shutdown: A period when federal agencies or departments do not have the necessary funding to operate.
• Member of Congress: An individual serving in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
• Payroll administrator: The person in each chamber responsible for managing the pay of Members of Congress.

Provisions for Pay Reduction

If a government shutdown occurs during a pay period, the following actions will be taken:

• The payroll administrator in each House will reduce the salary payments for each Member of Congress by an amount equal to one day's pay for each day of the shutdown within that pay period.
• This pay reduction will start from a specified date after the regularly scheduled general election in November 2026.

Special Rules Before General Election

Before the effective date of the salary reduction:

• If a government shutdown is in effect, the payroll administrator will withhold pay corresponding to the duration of the shutdown, depositing the withheld amounts into an escrow account.
• At the end of Congress, any remaining funds in this escrow account will be released for payment to Members of Congress to comply with constitutional requirements regarding their compensation.

Role of the Secretary of the Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for providing any necessary assistance to the payroll administrators to implement these provisions.

Relevant Companies

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