Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation for any period during which a Government shutdown is in effect.
A Republican resolution with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The amendment would prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a government shutdown. A shutdown is defined as a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department due to a failure to pass a regular appropriations bill or a continuing resolution. If ratified by three-fourths of the States within seven years, this would become part of the Constitution. Congress would also have the power to enforce this new article through legislation.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill increases accountability by ensuring lawmakers do not receive pay while the government is not functioning due to funding lapses.
- Scored +2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill reduces federal spending by preventing the payment of congressional salaries during government shutdowns.
- Scored +1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill may marginally benefit public funds by reducing government expenditures during shutdowns.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Accountability for Legislators: The bill prevents Representatives and Senators from receiving pay during a period where there is a failure to enact regular appropriations bills or continuing resolutions (Section 1).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases accountability by ensuring lawmakers do not receive pay while the government is not functioning due to funding lapses.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would high-income households be better off under this? — The bill reduces the total federal expenditure on salaries during periods of government instability. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill may marginally benefit public funds by reducing government expenditures during shutdowns.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill reduces federal spending by preventing the payment of congressional salaries during government shutdowns.
- 10/3/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.