Bills · HR 5738
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5738Congress
No Budget, No Pay Act
INTRO OCT 10· LAST ACTION OCT 10
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
9
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-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it directly addresses Congress's repeated difficulty in passing a budget and funding the government on time, a common source of political gridlock and uncertainty. For years, delays have led to debates, temporary funding measures (continuing resolutions), and even government shutdowns, which disrupt federal services, impact government employees, and create economic instability.
If this bill becomes law, it introduces a direct financial consequence for members of Congress for failing to perform a core legislative duty. This could incentivize them to find compromises and complete their budget work by the October 1 deadline, potentially reducing the likelihood of shutdowns or prolonged funding impasses. If it doesn't become law, the current system continues, where members' pay is generally unaffected by their inability to pass a budget and appropriations bills on time, and the patterns of last-minute deals or funding gaps may persist.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Members of Congress will not receive pay after October 1 of any fiscal year if a budget resolution has not been approved and all regular spending bills have not been passed.
This creates a direct financial incentive for members of Congress to complete their essential budget and appropriations duties on schedule.
PROVISION 02
Any pay withheld due to non-compliance will not be given to members retroactively.
This ensures that the financial penalty for delays is permanent and cannot be undone later, strengthening the incentive for timely action.
PROVISION 03
The Chairs of the House and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees are responsible for determining if Congress has met the budget and appropriations deadlines.
This provision establishes the specific officials who will oversee and certify whether the conditions for pay stoppage have been met each year.
PROVISION 04
The bill's provisions will take effect on September 29, 2027.
This sets a future start date, giving Congress time to prepare for the new rule.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 9
R· North Carolina
YRS IN OFFICE
1
BILLS LED
32
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 22%
DEM 1 REP 8 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSOCT 10
Introduced in House
OCT 10
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5738
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedOct 10, 2025
Last actionOct 10, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION · INTRODUCED OCT 10, 2025
House BillHR 5738Congress
No Budget, No Pay Act
INTRODUCED OCT 10, 2025· LAST ACTION OCT 10, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
9
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
