Senator Hassan Joins Senator Braun, Colleagues in Reintroducing No Budget, No Pay Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan No Budget, No Pay Act, which would require members of Congress to pass the annual budget resolutions and all appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year, October 1st, otherwise members will not be paid, with retroactive pay prohibited. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Barrasso (R-WY), Richard Burr (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) also joined in reintroducing the bill. 

“If Congress can’t do our work and pass a budget, we shouldn’t get paid – it’s that simple,” said Senator Hassan. “As New Hampshire Governor, I worked across party lines to pass fiscally responsible budgets, and we have a responsibility to get the job done in Congress too.” 

“Every business and family makes a budget, but Congress doesn’t. If your representatives refuse to do a basic part of their job like passing a budget resolution and appropriations bills in time, we shouldn’t get paid. That’s why I’m reintroducing the No Budget, No Pay Act, to hold D.C. accountable for the budget dysfunction that’s put us on a collision course with fiscal disaster,” said Senator Mike Braun. 

The full text of the bill can be read here.

As Chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, Senator Hassan is focused on working across the aisle to strengthen fiscal responsibility and improve government efficiency. Senator Hassan recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation to allow the U.S. Mint to adjust metal content of circulating coins to save taxpayer dollars. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee also recently advanced three bipartisan bills introduced by the Senator to strengthen government efficiency. Additionally, the government funding bill that was passed into law last year included the bipartisan Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which Senator Hassan cosponsored, to curb federal improper payments to the deceased and save taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, in 2019, President Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Hassan and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to close a loophole in the Medicaid rebate program that results in big pharmaceutical companies overcharging taxpayers. The bipartisan legislation will save taxpayers approximately $3.1 billion over the next 10 years.

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