Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Resolution
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 178
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-07T14:10:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution aims to reduce the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA)—a budget provided to House members for official office expenses like staff salaries, travel, and constituent services—for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It sets this allowance at a fixed lower amount compared to the prior year, promoting fiscal restraint in congressional operations.
Key Provisions
- Allowance Amount: The MRA for each Member of the House (or Member-elect) is established as the fiscal year 2025 amount, minus $100,000.
- Scope: Applies to all House members' districts, based on the existing framework under section 101 of the House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act (2 U.S.C. 5341), which governs the MRA.
- Duration: Effective for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 only.
- Short Title: "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Resolution," suggesting a focus on accountability in spending.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Modifies the annual MRA calculation by imposing a specific $100,000 reduction from the fiscal year 2025 baseline, rather than allowing it to adjust based on standard inflation or cost-of-living formulas typically used for such allowances.
- This is a targeted, temporary cut, overriding potential automatic increases for the specified years without altering the underlying statute permanently.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Reduces overall House operational costs by approximately $100,000 per member (across 435 members, totaling around $43.5 million annually for two years), contributing to federal budget savings. The House Administration Committee may need to oversee implementation and any related reporting.
- On Citizens: Indirectly affects constituent services, as members might face constraints in funding district offices, mailings, or casework, potentially leading to reduced responsiveness in some areas.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the MRA primarily funds domestic representational activities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of the House of Representatives: Directly impacted, as they must operate within a reduced budget for essential duties, possibly requiring cuts to staff or travel.
- House Staff and Vendors: Employees and contractors (e.g., for printing or IT services) may face job or contract reductions.
- Taxpayers: Benefit from lower congressional spending, aligning with broader efforts to control federal expenditures.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a House resolution, it functions as an internal rule change enforceable within the House, without needing Senate approval or presidential signature. It builds on existing law (2 U.S.C. 5341) but could face challenges if seen as infringing on members' ability to perform constitutional duties (e.g., representing constituents under Article I).
- Constitutional: No major issues, though it touches on the House's self-governance powers; excessive cuts might raise questions about adequate resourcing for legislative functions.
- Political: Symbolizes bipartisan or reformist pressure for spending cuts in Congress, potentially influencing public perception of fiscal responsibility. The short title adds a rhetorical element, implying members should align actions with advocacy for reduced government spending. If passed, it could set a precedent for future allowance adjustments amid budget debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-03-03: Submitted in House
- 2025-02-27: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H892)
Bill Versions
- Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Resolution — issued 2025-03-03 — PDF (2 pages)