What This Bill Does
This bill reduces the pay of House members if the House does not elect a Speaker by the end of the first day of a new Congress. The bill applies to the 119th Congress and all future Congresses. The longer it takes to elect a Speaker, the more pay members lose.
Who It Affects
House of Representatives members who serve in positions covered under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
Key Provisions
• House members lose one day's worth of pay for each 24-hour period that passes without a Speaker being elected (Sec. 2(a))
• The pay reduction applies to all House members holding covered positions under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Sec. 2(b))
• This rule applies starting with the 119th Congress and continues for all future Congresses (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, House members will automatically have their annual pay reduced based on how many days pass without electing a Speaker at the start of a new Congress. The longer the Speaker election takes, the larger the pay cut each member receives.
Important Definitions
"Member of the House of Representatives" means an individual serving in a House position covered under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (Sec. 2(b)).
Effective Date
The 119th Congress and each succeeding Congress (Sec. 2(c)). The specific calendar date is not specified in bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 352
To reduce the pay of Members of the House of Representatives if a Speaker
is not elected on the first day of a Congress.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 12, 2023
Mr. VASQUEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on
Oversight and Accountability, 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 reduce the pay of Members of the House of Representa-
tives if a Speaker is not elected on the first day of
a Congress.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mandating Congress
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Can’t Accept Remuneration for Time not Helping You
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Act’’ or the ‘‘McCARTHY Act’’.
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•HR 352 IH
SEC. 2. REDUCTION OF PAY OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE IF
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SPEAKER IS NOT ELECTED.
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(a) REDUCTION OF PAY.—If, by the end of the first
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day of a Congress, the House of Representatives has not
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elected a Speaker, the annual rate of pay applicable under
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section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
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1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501) with respect to each Member of the
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House of Representatives for the year shall be reduced by
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an amount equal to the product of—
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(1) an amount equal to one day’s worth of pay
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under such annual rate; and
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(2) the number of 24-hour periods during which
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no Speaker has been elected for the Congress.
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(b) MEMBER DEFINED.—In this section, the term
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‘‘Member of the House of Representatives’’ means an indi-
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vidual serving in a position in the House of Representa-
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tives which is covered under subparagraph (A), (B), or
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(C) of section 601(a)(1) of the Legislative Reorganization
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Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501(1)).
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with
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respect to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress and
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each succeeding Congress.
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Æ
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