The letter, dated June 5, calls for language to be inserted into the 2025 budget proposal stipulating that “no adjustment shall be made” to the salaries of members of Congress.
The lawmakers addressed the letter to Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the ranking member. They emphasized the need for Congress to focus on more pressing issues such as rising costs at the grocery store and pump, security at the southern border, and economic opportunities for farmers and small businesses.
Members of Congress have not received a cost-of-living raise since 2009, with salaries remaining steady at $174,000, excluding higher rates for speaker and leadership positions.
Although pay increases have been proposed annually since 2009, they have been consistently rejected. Language prohibiting a pay raise has been included in every budget since then, a trend the three lawmakers hope to continue.
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Congress seemed on the verge of approving a pay raise for fiscal year 2024. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) mentioned that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) were in favor of amending the Legislative Branch spending bill to allow for a pay increase, but Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) thwarted the attempt.
The Epoch Times has contacted Reps. Espaillat and Valadao for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
