Bills · HJRES 7
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House Joint Res.HJRES 7Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementConstitution and constitutional amendments
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a fiscal year unless both Houses of Congress have agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year.
INTRO JAN 3· LAST ACTION JAN 3
READING
1MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it tries to tackle a recurring problem in Washington: Congress's struggle to pass a federal budget on time. Often, lawmakers fail to agree on a budget resolution before the fiscal year begins on October 1st, leading to temporary funding bills, last-minute deals, or even partial government shutdowns. This creates uncertainty for government agencies, federal employees, and programs that rely on federal funding.
If this becomes law, it would create a powerful personal incentive for members of Congress to compromise and pass a budget resolution by the deadline. Without this amendment, members of Congress continue to receive their pay even when a budget isn't passed, which critics argue reduces the urgency to find common ground. Supporters believe it would force accountability and improve the efficiency of the legislative process, potentially leading to more predictable government functioning and better financial planning for the nation.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Proposes a Constitutional amendment to stop members of Congress from getting paid.
This is a fundamental change to how Congress operates, aiming to enforce accountability directly through personal compensation.
PROVISION 02
Members of Congress would not receive their salaries if both chambers haven't agreed on an identical budget resolution.
This creates a direct financial penalty for failing to complete a core legislative duty.
PROVISION 03
The budget resolution must be agreed upon *before* the start of the fiscal year (October 1st).
This sets a strict deadline, aiming to prevent delays and the use of stopgap funding measures.
PROVISION 04
The amendment would apply to fiscal years beginning after it is officially added to the Constitution.
This clarifies the effective date for the new rule, ensuring it doesn't apply retroactively.
PROVISION 05
For the amendment to pass, two-thirds of both the House and Senate must approve it, and then three-fourths of state legislatures must ratify it within seven years.
This outlines the high bar for changing the U.S. Constitution, reflecting its lasting impact.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· Pennsylvania
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
86
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSJAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Joint Resolution
NumberHJRES 7
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Last actionJan 3, 2025
READER REACTIONS
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025
House Joint Res.HJRES 7Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementConstitution and constitutional amendments
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a fiscal year unless both Houses of Congress have agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year.
INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
1 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
