Nov 7, 2024
Emergency Management
Moskowitz Signs Onto Bipartisan Bill to Block Congressional Pay During Defaults or Shutdowns
The “No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act” would withhold the paychecks of Members of Congress during any default or federal government shutdown. For weeks, Moskowitz has called for negotiations between the White House and Speaker McCarthy to avoid a disastrous default
May 18, 2023
Economy
Good Governance
Press
Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) announced he has signed onto a bipartisan bill that would block Members of Congress from receiving their pay during any default or government shutdown.
“If Congress can’t even pay America’s credit card, we shouldn’t get our paychecks,”said Moskowitz.
Specifically, the No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act would require congressional payroll administrators to withhold lawmakers’ paychecks on any day the public debt limit is reached or a lapse in federal government funding begins. During the current Congress, if either scenario occurs, the payroll administrators would be required to withhold payments for each day the debt ceiling is not lifted following a default — or for each day following the start of a federal government shutdown.
In compliance with the 27th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, congressional payroll administrators — such as the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) in the U.S. House — would release withheld payments at the end of the 118th Congress.