# Plain Language Summary: Money Where Our Mouths Are Act

This bill would stop members of Congress from getting paid whenever the federal government shuts down. Here's how it works: if Congress fails to pass a budget and the government stops operating, every senator and representative would lose one day's worth of pay for each day the shutdown lasts. So if a shutdown goes on for ten days, members would lose ten days of pay during that pay period. The bill applies to all members—senators, representatives, and the vice president—and would start taking effect beginning with the next Congress after this one passes.

The idea behind this bill is straightforward: it's meant to create financial pressure on Congress members to reach a budget agreement quickly rather than letting shutdowns drag on. Right now, Congress members continue receiving their paychecks even when they can't agree on a budget and the government shuts down, which some people see as unfair since federal workers often go unpaid during shutdowns. By making Congress members feel the financial pain themselves, supporters argue they'll be more motivated to compromise and prevent shutdowns from happening in the first place.

The bill defines a government shutdown as any situation where federal agencies run out of money because Congress hasn't passed a regular budget or temporary funding agreement. The Treasury Department would help the House and Senate payroll offices figure out how many days each shutdown lasted and calculate the correct pay deductions. This is a relatively simple administrative process—just counting shutdown days and reducing paychecks accordingly.

Money Where Our Mouths Are Act

James, John

Money Where Our Mouths Are Act This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid during a government shutdown, beginning with the 119th Congress.