Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07), along with Representatives Brad Ashford (NE-02), Gwen Graham (FL-02), and Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced legislation, H.R. 1032, the “No Homeland Security, No Pay Act,” to withhold the pay of members of Congress if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shuts down. Currently, funding for DHS will expire on Saturday, February 28 if Congress does not act.
“If Congress can’t do its job and put the security of the American people before politics, then they certainly shouldn’t get paid during a crisis that they are causing,” said Bera. “Shutting down the agency responsible for the safety of the American people —in our airports, at our borders, and all over this country —is the height of irresponsibility. We must stop the finger pointing, start acting like adults, and make Washington work for the people again. That starts with leading by example.”
“All across the country, folks live by the idea that if you don’t do your job, you shouldn’t get paid,” said Ashford. “The same should hold true for members of Congress, and this bill simply codifies that belief. It comes down to accountability to the people we represent, and is meant to encourage members of both parties to end the gridlock and find common ground on this important issue. There are too many credible threats against our nation to let this important agency shut down.”
“If Congress lets obstructionists shut down the Department of Homeland Security, each member should have their paycheck withheld,”
Graham said. “There should be an immediate consequence for letting partisan games threaten the security of the American people.”
“It is simple– if the hardworking men and women in the Department of Homeland Security will continue to go to work but not receive a paycheck, members of Congress, who have failed to do their job, should not receive a paycheck either,” Peters said.
The “No Homeland Security, No Pay Act,” would withhold the pay of members of Congress in an escrow account should funding lapse for DHS. The funds would not be available until funding legislation is signed into law.
Bera has represented Sacramento County in Congress since 2013. Born and raised in California, he is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He’s fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country’s debt in a responsible way. One of Bera’s first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don’t pass a budget, they don’t get paid. As a leader of the No Labels’ Problem Solvers, he’s working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation’s challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit http://www.bera.house.gov.
