Four years after landmark legislation that led to Congress passing America's budget on time after years of partisan gridlock, Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) helped reintroduce the No Budget, No Pay Act.
Bera renewed his call for Democrats and Republicans to do their jobs and get Congress working again by joining Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) as a lead cosponsor of the bill that would halt paychecks for members of Congress and Senators if they do not pass a budget on time.
"If Congress doesn't do its job for the American people and pass a budget on time, they shouldn't get paid," said Rep. Bera. "Appropriations and budget season is on the horizon, and we've got to get Congress working again, starting with holding Members and Senators accountable through a permanent No Budget, No Pay Act. Federal funding runs out in less than a month unless we can come together, do our jobs, and pass a budget."
In 2013, Rep. Bera, alongside Reps. Reid Ribble (R-WI), Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Jim Cooper (D-TN), and others introduced the No Budget, No Pay Act, and Congress overwhelmingly passed a one-year version of the bill into law. That year, both the House and Senate passed a budget on time in for the first time in years.
With only nine legislative days and less than a month until federal funding runs out, Bera stressed the need for Congressional accountability to pass America's budget.
Earlier this month, Rep. Bera raised concerns that the White House's budget proposal would make it harder for Sacramento County families to get ahead, make it harder to fund local projects, and diminish our ability to respond to floods or forest fires.
The No Budget, No Pay Act introduced in the 115th Congress is permanent and would stop member and Senator pay for each day after Sept. 30 that budget and spending bills are not passed.
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