Back to all billsIntroduced January 3, 2025 Latest Action January 3, 2025 Sponsor Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R) - PA Official Source Congress.gov Latest Action Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Subjects Budget processConstitution and constitutional amendmentsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementLegislative rules and procedureMembers of Congress
HJRES 7In CommitteeCongress 119
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a fiscal year unless both Houses of Congress have agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year.
AI Summary
Amends the Constitution to withhold Congress members' pay if a budget isn't agreed upon before the fiscal year starts.
What This Bill Does
H.J. Res. 7 seeks to amend the U.S. Constitution to condition the compensation of members of Congress on the timely passage of the federal budget. Specifically, it prohibits members from receiving their salaries unless both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed an identical concurrent budget resolution before the start of the fiscal year. This amendment is designed to incentivize Congress to fulfill one of its fundamental duties - passing a budget - in a timely manner, thereby promoting fiscal discipline and reducing governmental shutdowns caused by budgetary impasses.
Key Points
- Constitutional amendment to condition Congress members' pay on budget approval.
- Requires both Houses of Congress to agree on a budget before the fiscal year begins.
- Aims to promote fiscal responsibility and timely budget passage.
- Applies to fiscal years starting after the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.
- Seeks to reduce the likelihood of government shutdowns due to budgetary disagreements.
Who Would Be Affected
- Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives)
- Federal employees and agencies dependent on timely budget resolutions
- General public, especially those reliant on government services that could be impacted by shutdowns
Potential Effects
- Could lead to more timely passage of federal budgets.
- Might reduce the frequency and duration of government shutdowns.
- Could increase bipartisan efforts to reach budget agreements.
- May impact the financial stability of Congress members, incentivizing quicker budget resolutions.
Political Context
Likely bipartisan support:Unlikely
Summary generated by AI (gpt-4-turbo-preview) on January 31, 2026. This is an automated analysis and may contain errors. Always refer to the official bill text for accurate information.