To repeal the provision of law that provides automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7628
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-20: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-11T14:52:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 7628: Elimination of Automatic Pay Adjustments for Members of Congress
Purpose
This bill seeks to end the automatic annual pay increases for members of the U.S. Congress, requiring any future salary changes to be approved explicitly through new legislation rather than occurring by default.
Key Provisions
- Repeal of Automatic Adjustments: The bill repeals paragraph (2) of section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501), which currently ties congressional pay raises to adjustments in the salaries of federal civil service employees (specifically, those at level GS-15, step 1, in the Washington, D.C., area).
- Technical Amendments: It updates the remaining text of section 601(a) by:
- Removing references to the repealed paragraph.
- Redesignating subparagraphs as paragraphs.
- Changing language to state that congressional pay will be "adjusted as provided by law" instead of automatically.
- Effective Date: The changes take effect when the 120th Congress convenes (expected in January 2027), applying to the salaries of members serving in that Congress and beyond.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, members of Congress receive automatic pay adjustments each year based on the Employment Cost Index (a measure of wage growth in the private sector), unless Congress votes to block them. This bill eliminates that automatic mechanism entirely.
- Future pay adjustments for Congress would require separate legislative action, similar to how executive and judicial branch salaries are handled, rather than defaulting to inflation-linked increases.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, though it could set a precedent for reviewing automatic pay mechanisms in other federal branches (e.g., civil service or judiciary).
- On Citizens: May enhance public trust in Congress by addressing perceptions of unearned raises during economic challenges, potentially influencing voter sentiment on fiscal responsibility. No direct financial effect on taxpayers, as congressional salaries are a small fraction of the federal budget (about $174,000 base salary per member in 2023, plus allowances).
- On International Relations: None apparent; this is a domestic matter focused on U.S. legislative pay.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress: Primary group impacted, as they would lose automatic salary increases (which have been frozen by Congress since 2009 despite the mechanism). This could affect recruitment and retention of lawmakers, especially in lower-cost regions.
- Taxpayers and Advocacy Groups: Indirectly affected through potential improvements in government accountability; groups focused on ethics or budget reform (e.g., those pushing for term limits or anti-corruption measures) may support it.
- Federal Employees: Minor ripple effects, as the bill references civil service pay scales but does not alter them.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Aligns with Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution, which allows Congress to determine its own compensation but prohibits pay reductions during a member's term. The bill does not violate this, as it only affects future adjustments starting with the next Congress. It may invite legal challenges if seen as indirectly pressuring lawmakers.
- Political: Could be viewed as a populist or reform measure to curb perceived self-interest in Congress, potentially boosting bipartisan appeal amid public frustration with government spending. However, it might face opposition from members concerned about eroding legislative independence or making public service less attractive. As an introduced bill (not yet passed), its success depends on committee review by the House Administration and Oversight committees.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-20: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- 2026-02-20: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- 2026-02-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To repeal the provision of law that provides automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress. — issued 2026-02-20 — PDF (2 pages)