Skip to main content
S 388 112th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Appropriations Budget deficits and national debt Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Members of Congress Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

A bill to prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving pay during Government shutdowns.

Introduced: February 17, 2011 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 2, 2011
Held at the desk.
Mar 2, 2011
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 2, 2011
Received in the House.
Mar 1, 2011
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1051)
Mar 1, 2011
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1051)
Mar 1, 2011
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1051-1052)
Mar 1, 2011
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1051-1052)
Feb 17, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Feb 17, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S887-888)
Feb 17, 2011
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Prohibits Members of Congress and the President from receiving basic pay for any period in which: (1) there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department that results from failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution, or (2) the federal government is unable to make payments or meet obligations because the public debt limit has been reached.

Bars such forfeited pay from being paid retroactively.

What's happening now March 2, 2011

Held at the desk.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 819 Related bill Government Shutdown Fairness Act
  • HR 1305 Related bill To prohibit Members of Congress, including the Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to the Congress, and the Preside…
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Feb 28, 2011
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Feb 28, 2011
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Feb 17, 2011
 D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Feb 17, 2011
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Feb 17, 2011
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 388: A bill to prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving pay during Government shutdowns.. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-388/
MLA
"S. 388: A bill to prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving pay during Government shutdowns.." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-388/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 388, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-388/.
Markdown link
[S. 388: A bill to prohibit Members of Congress and the President from receiving pay during Government shutdowns.](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-388/)
Report a problem