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HR 209 · 119th CongressIn Committee
Inaction Has Consequences Act
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor
Robert Wittman
Introduced
January 3, 2025
Latest action
January 3, 2025
Legislative Progress
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Introduced
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Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Plain-Language Summary
AI GeneratedCongress must pass twelve regular appropriation bills each fiscal year to fund federal agencies and programs. Currently, when Congress fails to meet this deadline, it typically passes a continuing resolution—a temporary spending measure that extends previous funding levels—allowing government operations to continue while negotiations proceed. Members of Congress continue receiving their salaries throughout these delays. This practice has become increasingly common, with Congress relying on continuing resolutions rather than completing the full appropriations process on schedule.
The Inaction Has Consequences Act requires the payroll administrator of each chamber—the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate—to deposit all congressional salaries into escrow accounts if that chamber has not passed all twelve regular appropriation bills by the first day of the fiscal year. Members' salaries remain held in escrow from October 1st until either the chamber passes all appropriation bills or the Congress ends, whichever comes first. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to assist payroll administrators in implementing the escrow system. Tax withholdings and other deductions continue as normal on the held amounts.
Implementation begins with fiscal year 2026. If either chamber fails to pass all appropriation bills by October 1st, salaries are immediately diverted to escrow. Members receive their withheld compensation only after all bills pass or when their term ends. The bill includes a safeguard ensuring that any remaining escrow funds are released by the last day of Congress, addressing constitutional concerns about compensation changes mid-term. No new funding is required; the mechanism simply redirects existing salary payments. The downstream effect is intended to create pressure on Congress to complete appropriations work on schedule rather than relying on continuing resolutions.
Key Provisions
- 1Requires the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate to deposit all congressional salaries into escrow accounts if their respective chamber fails to pass all twelve regular appropriation bills by the first day of the fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 2026.
- 2Establishes that salaries remain held in escrow from October 1st until either the chamber passes all appropriation bills or the Congress ends, whichever occurs first, with members receiving payment only upon release of the escrow funds.
- 3Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to provide assistance to payroll administrators in implementing the escrow system and managing the held accounts.
- 4Requires that tax withholdings, Social Security contributions, and other deductions continue to be processed normally on amounts held in escrow, ensuring proper remittance to relevant agencies.
- 5Mandates that any remaining escrow funds be released to members by the last day of Congress to comply with the Twenty-Seventh Amendment's prohibition on mid-term compensation changes.
★ Why this matters
Members of Congress would lose access to their salaries whenever their chamber fails to pass all appropriation bills by October 1st, creating direct financial consequences for incomplete budget work. This changes the current system where Congress can operate indefinitely under continuing resolutions without salary penalties. The mechanism applies pressure to complete the full appropriations process rather than relying on temporary spending measures. Government agencies and programs would still operate under continuing resolutions during delays, but members would face personal financial consequences for legislative delays.
● Who this affects
Members of the House of Representatives and Senate face the most direct impact, as their salaries would be withheld whenever appropriation deadlines are missed. Federal employees and contractors experience indirect effects, as continuing resolutions may delay their own pay or benefits processing. Taxpayers and federal program beneficiaries could see operational disruptions if appropriations delays worsen, though the bill's intent is to reduce such delays. The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate must administer the escrow system and coordinate with the Department of the Treasury.
Bill Text
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<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 209
To hold the salaries of Members of a House of Congress in escrow if the
House of Congress does not pass regular appropriation bills on a timely
basis during a Congress, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Wittman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
A BILL
To hold the salaries of Members of a House of Congress in escrow if the
House of Congress does not pass regular appropriation bills on a timely
basis during a Congress, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Inaction Has Consequences Act''.
SEC. 2. HOLDING SALARIES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ESCROW UPON FAILURE
TO PASS REGULAR APPROPRIATION BILLS.
(a) Holding Salaries in Escrow.--If by the first day of a fiscal
year (beginning with fiscal year 2026), a House of Congress has not
passed each of the regular appropriation bills for such fiscal year,
during the period described in subsection (b) the payroll administrator
of that House of Congress shall deposit in an escrow account all
payments otherwise required to be made during such period for the
compensation of Members of Congress who serve in that House of
Congress, and shall release such payments to such Members only upon the
expiration of such period.
(b) Period Described.--With respect to a House of Congress and a
fiscal year, the period described in this paragraph is the period which
begins on the first day of the fiscal year and ends on the earlier of--
(1) the first day by which the House of Congress has passed
each of the regular appropriation bills for such fiscal year;
or
(2) the last day of the Congress during which that fiscal
year begins.
(c) Regular Appropriation Bill Defined.--The term ``regular
appropriation bill'' means any annual appropriation bill which, with
respect to the Congress involved, is under the jurisdiction of a single
subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives (pursuant to the Rules of the House of Representatives
for that Congress) and a single subcommittee of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate (pursuant to the Standing Rules of the
Senate).
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION OF ESCROW.
(a) Withholding and Remittance of Amounts From Payments Held in
Escrow.--The payroll administrator shall provide for the same
withholding and remittance with respect to a payment deposited in an
escrow account under section 2 that would apply to the payment if the
payment were not subject to such section.
(b) Role of Secret…Party Positions
2 members formally cosponsored
Democratic Party
No position data available yet
Source: cosponsors
Republican Party
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2 members formally endorsed
Cosponsored this bill
Source: cosponsors
Cosponsor data and vote records sourced from Congress.gov. Reflects formal legislative actions only.