House Republicans this week proposed a legislative branch spending bill that would freeze lawmaker salaries in fiscal year 2017, and keep in place a pay freeze that has been in place since 2010.
The House Appropriations Committee released its proposed spending bill late Tuesday, and is hoping to move the bill out of committee in the coming weeks.
The bill proposes spending $3.48 billion in the next fiscal year, a $73 million increase over the current year. That increase reflects the need for improvements to “aging or damaged facilities.”
But a salary bump for lawmakers isn’t going to happen if the bill becomes law.
“The legislation also includes a provision to freeze the pay of Members of Congress, preventing any pay increases in fiscal year 2017,” the committee said. “A freeze on the salaries of Representatives has been in place since 2010.”
The base salary for members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year, although top leadership positions pay $193,400, and the speaker of the House earns $223,500.
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no adjustment shall be made … (relating to cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress) during fiscal year 2017,” the bill states.
