Last week, on the first day of the new Congress, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) introduced H.R. 26, the “No Work, No Pay Act of 2019.” Curtis’ bill would prohibit Senators and Representatives from being paid during periods when any Federal agency is shut down due to a lapse in funding appropriated by Congress.

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“The American people expect Congress to do its most basic job: pass a budget and fund the government.  If we can’t, then we shouldn’t get paid,” said Curtis. “Washington should take note of states like Utah that do it right. Not only does the Utah Legislature pass a baseline budget at the beginning of each legislative session to avoid any state government shutdown threats, but they also responsibly balance the state’s budget every year.” As he has done during previous government shutdowns, Rep. Curtis has already asked the Clerk of the House to withhold his pay until the government is fully funded. He strongly believes that both Republicans and Democrats should be held accountable to find common ground to solve this funding impasse. A copy of Rep. Curtis’ letter requesting his pay to be withheld during the shutdown can be found here. The text of the “No Work, No Pay” bill can be found here.

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