After bipartisan effort from members of Congress led by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, House Leadership has decided to delay consideration of the Legislative Branch appropriations bill which included a pay increase for Members of Congress.
“America’s infrastructure is crumbling, our borders remain unsecured, our immigration system is broken, healthcare costs continue to rise, and Americans are still living paycheck to paycheck. This Congress has had six months since it convened in January to address these issues but has not. Members from both parties are to blame. And yet, members from both parties seem to think they have earned a pay raise,” said Fitzpatrick. “I am pleased that enough of my colleagues agreed to join me that we were able to force leadership to put this ridiculous raise on hold. I look forward to meeting House leadership at the negotiating table to ensure the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill doesn’t include any pay increase for myself or any of my colleagues.”
At a meeting of the House Rules Committee meeting last night, the Committee removed the Legislative Branch appropriations section of the bill from floor consideration this week because the Member pay increases threatened to sink the entire appropriations package.
Fitzpatrick was joined by the following members who cosponsored his amendment to stop Member pay increases: Rep. Jared Golden (ME-02), Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), John Rutherford (FL-04), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Greg Gianforte (MT-AL), Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Michael Bost (IL-12), Cindy Axne (IA-03), Phil Roe (TN-01), and Colin Allred (TX-32).
“Congress should be advancing legislation that helps hardworking families — not giving pay raises to ourselves,” said Rep. Elaine Luria.
“Too many hardworking Upstate New Yorkers still struggle make ends meet, and the last thing we should do is give Washington a pay raise. That’s why I fought against a member pay raise, and I’ll continue oppose it. Let’s do what the people sent us here to do: work together to support our veterans, help family farmers, build infrastructure, and lower health care costs,” said Rep. Anthony Brindisi.
“Congress has failed to secure our borders, pass a budget, or fix our health care system. We are only five months removed from a prolonged shutdown of the federal government. We should not be increasing pay for members of Congress, and I am pleased the leadership has reversed course as a result of this amendment being offered. I thank Representative Fitzpatrick for his leadership, and I hope we can get back to doing work that helps the American people,” said Rep. Phil Roe.
“After putting Americans through the longest government shutdown in history this year, the last thing Congress deserves is a pay raise. I stood with my constituents by suspending my pay for the duration of the shutdown, and I continue to stand with them by refusing a pay adjustment for Congress at this time,” said Rep. Troy Balderson.
“Congress doesn’t need a raise, the American people need a raise and they need results. The House should continue to focus on lowering health care costs, addressing the opioid and addiction crisis, and supporting our veterans. A pay raise for Congress isn’t and shouldn’t be a priority,” said Rep. Andy Kim.
“With all the issues facing America today, both domestically and around the globe, the last thing Members of Congress should be doing is giving themselves a pay raise. That sends the wrong message to the American people – Congress has not been doing its job to the extent that the country both needs and deserves. Let’s focus on more important issues, like passing a budget, fixing our outdated infrastructure, and securing our southern border,” said Rep. Doug LaMalfa.
“I do not support efforts to raise Congressional pay. Too many hard-working North Texans are struggling to afford health care and there is just too much to be done before we consider this. I am pleased leadership has decided to postpone this measure, and I thank our bipartisan group who worked together on this. Let's get back to doing the job we were elected to do,” said Rep. Colin Allred.
“Before we even begin to consider a cost-of-living-adjustment for Members of Congress, we should be focused on how to pass legislation that ensures better pay, benefits, and retirement security for working families. Central Virginians are facing increasing housing, food, and prescription drug costs, and we need to focus on those pressing issues. In the future, we can have a deliberate and thoughtful debate on the issue of how to address member pay—but we shouldn’t let it distract us from this week’s legislation to fund our military, support research for rare diseases, and reassert the role of U.S. global leadership abroad,” said Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
“Hardworking Montanans know that if you don’t do your job, you don’t deserve a pay raise. In Washington, Congress hasn’t passed a budget, hasn’t secured the border, and hasn’t reined in out-of-control spending. Congress hasn’t done its job, it doesn’t deserve a pay raise, and I’ll continue working to prevent Congress from getting one,” said Rep. Greg Gianforte.
“The Democrats, under Speaker Pelosi, have failed to put forth a budget resolution, secure our borders, or make meaningful improvements to our failing infrastructure; and they think Congress needs a pay raise? You can’t make this stuff up. The American people deserve better. I thank Brian Fitzpatrick for his leadership on this amendment and urge all of my colleagues to vote against this outrageous proposal,” said Rep. GT Thompson.
“The 116th Congress is reaching new heights of irresponsibility. We are aiming at record levels of spending everywhere except for our border patrol and a physical barrier at our Southern border, which actually need more funding. That Congress would consider this a fitting time for a raise is inappropriate. Rep. Nita Lowey, Chair of House Committee on Appropriations and Rep. Tim Ryan, Chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, are showing just how out-of-touch long-serving Congressmen are. I am glad to be one of the 20 bipartisan Congressmen to cosponsor this amendment,” said Rep Glenn Grothman.