Troops Before Politicians Act

This bill would pause paychecks for Members of Congress any time active-duty service members (including reservists on active service) are not getting paid. Lawmakers’ pay would be set aside in a separate account and only paid out after troops’ pay starts again. The Treasury Department would help the House and Senate payroll offices do this. If the pay stoppage is because of a lapse in funding, like during a government shutdown, the same rules apply. To follow the Constitution’s rules on pay, any money still held must be paid out by the end of the current Congress.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Members of Congress; service members on active service.
• What changes: If troops aren’t being paid, congressional pay is paused and set aside; it’s released once troops’ pay resumes.
• When it applies: Any day during a pay period when troops aren’t receiving pay; any remaining withheld pay is released by the end of the current Congress.