November 10, 2025
Mr. Kennedy submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
Reducing the annual rate of pay of Senators if a Government shutdown occurs during a year.
Section 1. No pay for Senators during Government shutdowns
(a) Definitions
In this section—
(1)
the term Government shutdown means a lapse in appropriations for 1 or more Federal agencies or departments; and
(2)
the term Secretary of the Senate means the Secretary of the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate who is designated by the Secretary to carry out the requirements of this section.
(b) Requiring reduction of pay of Senators if Government shutdown occurs
(1) In general
If on any day during a pay period a Government shutdown is in effect, the Secretary of the Senate shall exclude from the payments otherwise required to be made with respect to that pay period for the compensation of each Senator an amount equal to the product of—
(A)
an amount equal to one day's worth of pay under the annual rate of pay of the Senator under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501); and
(B)
the number of 24-hour periods during the pay period during which the Government shutdown is in effect.
(2) Effective date
This subsection shall apply with respect to days occurring after the date of the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2026 (in this section referred to as the pay reduction effective date
).
(c) Special rule for Senators before general election
(1) Holding salaries in escrow
If on any day before the pay reduction effective date a Government shutdown is in effect, the Secretary of the Senate shall—
(A)
withhold from the payments otherwise required to be made with respect to a pay period for the compensation of each Senator an amount equal to the product of—
(i)
an amount equal to one day’s worth of pay under the annual rate of pay applicable to the Senator under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501); and
(ii)
the number of 24-hour periods during which the Government shutdown is in effect which occur during the pay period; and
(B)
deposit in an escrow account all amounts withheld under subparagraph (A).
(2) Release of amounts at end of the Congress
In order to ensure that this subsection is carried out in a manner that shall not vary the compensation of Senators in violation of the 27th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Secretary of the Senate shall release for payments to Senators any amounts remaining in any escrow account under this subsection on the pay reduction effective date.
(3) Applicability
This subsection shall apply with respect to days during the period beginning on the date of adoption of this resolution and ending on the pay reduction effective date.