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H.R. 3538 118th Congress House

No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

Official title: To reduce the annual rate of pay of Members of Congress if the public debt limit is reached or a Government shutdown occurs during a year, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 19, 2023 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 18, 2023
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 18, 2023
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 18, 2023

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

This bill withholds or eliminates the pay of Members of Congress for any day that the public debt limit is reached or there is a government shutdown.

During the 118th Congress, any salary earned by Members during these events must be held in escrow and released on the last day of that Congress. For subsequent Congresses, a Member shall not be paid for any day that these events occur.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3538: No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3538/
MLA
"H.R. 3538: No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3538/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3538, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3538/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3538: No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-3538/)
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