Troops Before Politicians Act

The Troops Before Politicians Act would link congressional pay to the status of troops’ pay. Specifically, if members of the Armed Forces (including reserves) do not receive pay during a pay period due to a lapse in government appropriations, the bill requires the payroll administrator for each House of Congress to withhold congressional salaries for that period and place those funds in an escrow account. When the military pay lapse ends, the escrowed amounts would be released to Congress members. A special rule for the 119th Congress would require any remaining escrowed funds to be released on the last day of that Congress to avoid violating the constitutional rules about congressional pay (the 27th Amendment). The Secretary of the Treasury would assist in implementing these requirements. The bill provides specific definitions for terms such as “active service,” “Armed Forces,” and “Member of Congress,” and designates who acts as the payroll administrator for both the House and Senate. In short, pay for members of Congress would be withheld and held in escrow during military pay gaps, with release tied to the end of those gaps, and a constitutional safeguard tied to the 27th Amendment during the 119th Congress.