H.R. 1973 — No Pay for Congress During Default or Shutdown Act

This section requires reduction of Members of Congress's annual pay under 2 U.S.C. 4501 (i.e., Senators, House Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico) if the public debt limit is reached (i.e., federal government unable to make payments or meet obligations due to 31 U.S.C. 3101), by an amount equal to one day's pay under such rate multiplied by the number of 24-hour periods the limit is reached. (1) The reduction applies to days after the November 2026 general election. (2) For the 119th Congress (2025-2027) prior to that election, the relevant House payroll administrator withholds equivalent amounts in escrow during affected pay periods and releases them on the last day of the Congress. (Thus, no net pay reduction occurs during the term to comply with the Twenty-seventh Amendment.)

This section requires a reduction in the annual rate of pay for each Member of Congress by an amount equal to one day's pay multiplied by the number of 24-hour periods of a government shutdown (i.e., a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department due to failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution), effective for days after the November 2026 general election. For the 119th Congress, it further directs the payroll administrator of each house to withhold equivalent amounts during such shutdowns (except after the November 2026 election) and deposit them in escrow, releasing all amounts on the last day of the Congress. (Thus, no net pay reduction occurs during the 119th Congress, avoiding violation of the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits varying the compensation of Senators and Representatives during a congressional term.)

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "Member of Congress" as an individual serving in a position under 2 U.S.C. 601(a)(1)(A)–(C) (i.e., Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate to the House, Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, Senate President pro tempore and party leaders, or House Speaker or party leaders); and (2) "payroll administrator" as the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives (or designee) for the House and the Secretary of the Senate (or designee) for the Senate.