# Plain Language Summary: No Work, No Pay Act of 2023

This bill would stop members of Congress from getting paid during government shutdowns. Here's how it works: whenever the federal government shuts down because Congress can't agree on a budget, members of the House and Senate would lose one day's worth of pay for each day the shutdown lasts. So if a shutdown goes on for ten days, each member would lose ten days of salary. The bill defines a government shutdown as any situation where federal agencies run out of money because Congress hasn't passed a budget or temporary funding agreement.

The practical effect is straightforward—it's designed to create financial pressure on members of Congress to reach a budget deal quickly rather than letting shutdowns drag on. Right now, members continue receiving their paychecks even when the government shuts down and hundreds of thousands of federal employees are furloughed without pay. This bill would change that by making Congress share in the financial pain. The bill would apply starting with the 119th Congress (which begins in 2025) and continue indefinitely for all future Congresses.

The bill doesn't affect federal employees, contractors, or the public beyond the indirect effects of potentially shorter shutdowns. It's purely about Congress's own compensation. While supporters argue this creates an incentive for lawmakers to avoid shutdowns, critics might point out that members of Congress earn substantial salaries and could absorb lost pay more easily than federal workers who depend on their paychecks to cover rent and bills. The bill essentially says that if Congress can't do its job of passing a budget, its members shouldn't get paid for that period of non-work.

No Work, No Pay Act of 2023

Curtis, John R.

No Work, No Pay Act of 2023 This bill prohibits Members of Congress from being paid during a government shutdown, beginning with the 119th Congress.