WASHINGTON, D.C. – With a government shutdown looming, U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today introduced two bills to prevent politicians in Washington, D.C. from profiting while Americans across the country go without a paycheck. The bipartisan No Work, No Pay Act fines Members of Congress an amount equivalent to one day’s pay for each day of a government shutdown. The People Before Politics Act would prohibit Members of Congress from fundraising for their re-election during a shutdown.
“Our government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people,” said Rep. Nunn. “Well, the people have had enough of greedy, self-aggrandizing clowns putting their own personal profit ahead of the American people. D.C. politicians need to play by the same rules as the rest of the American people.”
During a government shutdown, federal employees across the country—including members of the Armed Forces—will have their pay suspended; however, the 27th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees pay for Members of Congress. To comply with this Constitutional requirement and also ensure that Congress isn’t profiting while the American people suffer, the bipartisan No Work, No Pay Act would impose a fine on Representatives and Senators equal to one day’s pay for each day the government is shutdown. The full text of the No Work, No Pay Act—which is co-lead by U.S. Representatives Marie Glusenkamp Perez (WA-03), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02)—can be found here.
Additionally, the People Before Politics Act would prohibit Members in both the House and Senate from directing or personally engaging in fundraising for their political campaign during a government shutdown. The full text of the People Before Politics Act can be found here.