Missed Paychecks for Missed Deadlines

Full Title:
Missed Paychecks for Missed Deadlines Act

Summary#

This bill requires that when there is a lapse in appropriations (called a "Government shutdown" in the bill) on any day in a pay period, the payroll administrator for each House must withhold pay for each Member of Congress for the number of 24-hour periods during that pay period that the lapse is in effect. The withheld amount equals one day's pay under the Member's annual rate multiplied by the number of 24-hour periods of the lapse. Members may not receive retroactive pay for any pay period that includes a lapse. The Secretary of the Treasury must provide assistance to the payroll administrators. The bill defines a shutdown as a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department caused by a failure to enact a regular appropriations act or a continuing resolution. The measure applies beginning with the One Hundred Twentieth Congress and thereafter and uses the statutory definition of "Member of Congress" in section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.

What it means for you#

  • Members of Congress: Pay for any pay period that includes days with a lapse in appropriations would be reduced by one day's pay for each 24-hour lapse day, and no retroactive pay would be allowed for those pay periods.
  • Payroll administrators: Must calculate and exclude the specified amounts and may get assistance from the Secretary of the Treasury.
  • Congressional staff and the general public: No publicly available information in the bill text about effects on staff pay or other direct effects.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, savings, or budget estimates is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata states proponents' arguments or rationale.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata states opponents' arguments or concerns.