Starting after the November 2026 election, Members of Congress permanently lose one day of pay for each day the government is shut down. Before that date, the same amount is withheld but eventually paid back. Even a partial shutdown that affects just one agency triggers the pay cut.
Modern Action shows what the legislation would change, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Latest action on S. 3057: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects all sitting Senators and Representatives. Their paychecks would shrink during government shutdowns. Congressional payroll administrators and the Treasury Department would take on new duties to calculate and process the pay changes. The bill does not change how shutdowns affect federal employees, contractors, or public services.
Why this matters: During budget fights, lawmakers can let government funding lapse with little personal financial consequence. This bill tries to change that by tying their own paychecks to whether the government stays open. Whether the pay cut is large enough to actually influence negotiations is debatable, but it signals that lawmakers should share in the consequences of a shutdown. The bill does not address the broader damage shutdowns cause to federal workers and public services.
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
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Officially: Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act
Starting after the November 2026 election, Members of Congress permanently lose one day of pay for each day the government is shut down. Before that date, the same amount is withheld but eventually paid back. Even a partial shutdown that affects just one agency triggers the pay cut.
Use this page to support, oppose, or ask Congress to amend S3057. Modern Action shows what the bill would change, helps identify the right senators or representative, and drafts a bill-specific message you can edit and send.
Where it stands
Sitting in Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.
↓ Why your message matters here
This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.
Enter your ZIP to see how your senators and member of Congress have voted, sponsored, or spoken on this bill.
The debate
Where this bill is in the process
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Senate Committee
Under Senate committee consideration
Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (10/27/2025)
Senate Floor Vote
Voted on by Senate
Passed Senate
Approved by Senate
House Review
Sent to House for consideration
Passed Both Chambers
Approved by both House and Senate
Signed into Law
Signed by the President
For more detail
Choose one clear position: support, oppose, or amend. Then pick any reasons or personal context you want included. Modern Action uses that input and the bill context to draft a message you can edit and send.
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The draft includes the bill number, your position, the reasons you selected, any personal context you added, and a direct ask such as voting yes, voting no, cosponsoring, opposing, or seeking changes. You stay in control because you can edit the message before sending.
This page gives you an opportunity to support, oppose, or ask for changes to Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, then contact the elected officials who can act. Modern Action drafts the message from your position and the reasons you select.
Modern Action keeps the action tied to the bill itself: what it would do, where it is in the process (committee), which office can still act, and what ask belongs in the message.
You are not starting from a blank form. Modern Action drafts the message around S3057, your stance, and the reasons you choose, then lets you edit and send when ready.