It has been 15 years since members of Congress have seen a pay increase. The House Appropriations Committee voted on June 13 to extend a pay freeze for members of Congress amidst rising costs of living for their constituents. The panel marked up the fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill for the legislative branch and voted to block a cost-of-living adjustment for members of Congress before sending the bill to the full House in a 33–24 vote.
While those in leadership roles receive more, the salary for rank-and-file members of Congress has been capped at $174,000 for 15 years, prompting discussions on whether this should change. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) raised concerns during the meeting about the implications of only allowing rich individuals to serve in Congress.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) also expressed constitutional concerns about using the appropriations process to block the annual cost-of-living adjustment for members of Congress. He highlighted the 27th Amendment, which states that no law altering the compensation of members of Congress may take effect until after the next election of representatives.
Bipartisan Support
Despite being a politically unpopular move, reinstating the cost-of-living adjustment has garnered bipartisan support from members of Congress in recent years. In 2019, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) argued that voting against such increases could hinder campaign finance reform efforts.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has clashed with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, also emphasized the pay cut she took by serving in Congress. However, three Democrat lawmakers highlighted their constituents’ financial struggles as a reason to be more cautious about their own pay.
The full House is set to consider the appropriations bill in July as they aim to pass all 12 appropriations bills by the Sept. 30 deadline. The debate over members’ pay raises continues as they navigate the complex financial landscape.
Stacy Robinson contributed to this report.
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