H.R. 8140 — Money Where Our Mouths Are Act

This section directs the payroll administrators of the House of Representatives and Senate to withhold from each Member of Congress's pay during any affected pay period an amount equal to that Member's daily pay rate under 2 U.S.C. 4501 multiplied by the number of 24-hour periods of government shutdown in that pay period. (Thus, Members of Congress receive no compensation for days of a government shutdown.) The section requires the Secretary of the Treasury to assist the payroll administrators; defines "payroll administrator" as the Chief Administrative Officer of the House (or designee) and the Secretary of the Senate (or designee); and applies to the 120th Congress (2027-2028) and each succeeding Congress.

This section defines a "Government shutdown," for purposes of this Act, as a lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department resulting from the failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.

This section defines the term "Member of Congress" for purposes of this Act to mean an individual serving in a position under subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (i.e., Senators; Members of the House of Representatives, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; the President pro tempore and majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the House; and the Speaker of the House).