Bills · HR 209
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 209Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementAppropriations
Inaction Has Consequences Act
INTRO JAN 3· LAST ACTION JAN 3
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
2
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 addresses a common problem in Washington: the failure of Congress to pass its annual spending bills on time, which often leads to government shutdowns or short-term funding measures known as continuing resolutions. These disruptions can create uncertainty for government agencies, interrupt services, and impact federal employees and contractors.
If this bill becomes law, it aims to create a direct financial incentive for lawmakers to complete their basic duty of funding the government by the deadline. Without it, the current system allows for delays without directly impacting congressional salaries, which critics argue reduces the urgency for a timely budget process and contributes to government instability.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
If a House of Congress (either the House of Representatives or the Senate) does not pass all regular appropriation bills by the first day of a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2026), the salaries of its members will be held in an escrow account.
This creates a direct financial consequence for congressional inaction on budgeting, aiming to incentivize timely passage of spending bills.
PROVISION 02
Salaries held in escrow will be released only after all regular appropriation bills for that fiscal year are passed by that chamber, or at the very latest, on the last day of the Congress during which the fiscal year began.
This specifies when the withheld pay will be given to members, ensuring they eventually receive it while still applying pressure to complete legislative duties.
PROVISION 03
A "regular appropriation bill" is defined as an annual spending bill that falls under the jurisdiction of a single subcommittee in both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
This clarifies which specific types of legislative action trigger the salary escrow mechanism, preventing ambiguity.
PROVISION 04
The payroll administrator of each House (Chief Administrative Officer for the House, Secretary of the Senate for the Senate) is responsible for managing the escrow accounts and handling tax withholdings.
This assigns clear responsibility for implementing the bill's provisions, ensuring operational clarity.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
R· Virginia
YRS IN OFFICE
18
BILLS LED
23
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSJAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 209
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Last actionJan 3, 2025
READER REACTIONS
OVERALL SENTIMENT
No reactions yet. Be the first to weigh in.
Discussion
Loading comments...
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION · INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025
House BillHR 209Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementAppropriations
Inaction Has Consequences Act
INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
