I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5772 

To impose a fine on Members of Congress in the event of a Government 

shutdown, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 

Mr. NUNN of Iowa (for himself, Ms. PEREZ, Mr. PAPPAS, and Mr. 

GARBARINO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on 

Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To impose a fine on Members of Congress in the event 

of a Government shutdown, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘No Work, No Pay 

5 Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF FINE ON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 

2 IN EVENT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. 

3 (a) IMPOSITION.—If on any day during a year a Gov4 ernment shutdown is in effect, the enforcement authority 

5 of that House of Congress shall impose a fine against each 

6 Member of Congress who serves in that House in an 

7 amount equal to the product of— 

8 (1) one day’s worth of pay under the annual 

9 rate of pay applicable to the Member under section 

10 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 

11 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501); and 

12 (2) the number of days during the year on 

13 which the Government shutdown is in effect. 

14 (b) ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY DEFINED.—In this 

15 section, the ‘‘enforcement authority’’ of a House of Con16 gress means— 

17 (1) in the case of the House of Representatives, 

18 the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representa19 tives; and 

20 (2) in the case of the Senate, the Sergeant-at21 Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate. 

22 SEC. 3. DEDUCTING FINE FROM PAY. 

23 (a) DEDUCTION FROM PAY.—If a Member of Con24 gress against whom a fine is imposed under this Act has 

25 not paid the fine prior to the expiration of the 30-calendar 

26 day period which begins on the date the fine is imposed, 


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1 the payroll administrator of that House of Congress shall 

2 deduct the amount of the fine from the net salary other3 wise due the Member, in accordance with timetables and 

4 procedures established by the Committee on House Ad5 ministration of the House of Representatives (in the case 

6 of a Member of the House of Representatives or a Dele7 gate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or the 

8 Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate (in 

9 the case of a Senator). 

10 (b) PROHIBITING USE OF CAMPAIGN OR OFFICIAL

11 FUNDS TO PAY FINES.—A Member of Congress may not 

12 use campaign funds or official funds, including amounts 

13 in the Members’ Representational Allowance or the Sen14 ators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account, to 

15 pay a fine imposed under this Act. 

16 (c) PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR DEFINED.—In this 

17 section, the ‘‘payroll administrator’’ of a House of Con18 gress means— 

19 (1) in the case of the House of Representatives, 

20 the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 

21 Representatives, or an employee of the Office of the 

22 Chief Administrative Officer who is designated by 

23 the Chief Administrative Officer to carry out this 

24 section; and 


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1 (2) in the case of the Senate, the Secretary of 

2 the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the Sec3 retary of the Senate who is designated by the Sec4 retary to carry out this section. 

5 SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. 

6 For purposes of this Act, a Government shutdown 

7 shall be considered to be in effect if there is a lapse in 

8 appropriations for any Federal agency or department as 

9 a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill 

10 or continuing resolution. 

11 SEC. 5. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. 

12 Policies and procedures for the implementation of 

13 this Act shall be established— 

14 (1) for the implementation of this Act in the 

15 House of Representatives, by the Sergeant-at-Arms, 

16 Committee on House Administration, and Chief Ad17 ministrative Officer of the House of Representatives; 

18 and 

19 (2) for the implementation of this Act in the 

20 Senate, by the Sergeant-at-Arms and Doorkeeper, 

21 Committee on Rules and Administration, and Sec22 retary of the Senate. 

23 SEC. 6. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. 

24 This Act is enacted by Congress— 


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1 (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 

2 the Senate and House of Representatives, respec3 tively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules 

4 of each House, respectively, and it supersedes other 

5 rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with 

6 such rules; and 

7 (2) with full recognition of the constitutional 

8 right of either House to change the rules (so far as 

9 relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 

10 in the same manner, and to the same extent as in 

11 the case of any other rule of that House. 

12 SEC. 7. MEMBER OF CONGRESS DEFINED. 

13 In this Act, the term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means 

14 an individual serving in a position under subparagraph 

15 (A), (B), or (C) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reor16 ganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501). 

Æ 


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