Bill · H.R. 8140· House(119-HR-8140)
Money Where Our Mouths Are Act
- Introduced
- 3/27/2026
- Last activity
- 3/27/2026 — Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- John James
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Money Where Our Mouths Are Act" prohibits Members of Congress from receiving pay during Government shutdowns. If a shutdown occurs on any day within a pay period, the amount of pay for each Member is reduced based on the number of days the shutdown lasts. A shutdown is defined as a lapse in appropriations for any Federal agency or department. This bill applies to the One Hundred Twentieth Congress and all future Congresses.
Yes
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+5
Increases incentive for Congress to pass appropriations bills to avoid personal financial loss.
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?+1
Reducing congressional pay during shutdowns slightly reduces government expenditure.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?+1
The bill mandates a reduction in spending on congressional salaries during shutdowns.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Accountability for Members of Congress: Section 2 prohibits the pay of Members of Congress during government shutdowns, which holds elected officials financially accountable when they fail to enact appropriations bills or continuing resolutions as described in Section 3.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups of people in the United States are explicitly mentioned in the text of the bill.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+5Reduces Government Spending+1Reduces National Debt+1
- 3/27/2026
- Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 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.