Representatives Angie Craig & Chris Pappas Caution House Appropriators against Proposed Congressional Pay Raise
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) sent a letter asking House Appropriators not to include a potential pay raise for Members of Congress in upcoming appropriations legislation. In the 116th Congress, House Appropriators proposed a $4,500 pay raise for Members of Congress in fiscal year 2020, which was later blocked by Rep. Craig and other new Members. In a letter addressed to Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Ranking Member Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Craig and Pappas expressed a sincere belief that a pay bump was not appropriate after a year in which millions of Americans experienced economic distress due to the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis.
"For the last year and a half, hardworking Americans in our districts and across the country have been fighting to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn. Many of them have lost their jobs and livelihoods. Countless more have been forced to make difficult decisions about childcare, education, workforce participation, and healthcare because of forces out of their control," wrote the Members. "To be clear: these hardworking Americans have not been able to give themselves raises. Members of Congress should not do so either.
In the letter, the lawmakers underscored the ongoing economic challenges facing hardworking families back in their district – and argued that those conditions should preclude a pay raise for Members of Congress. Instead, the Members continued to advocate for strategic investments that would directly and positively impact Americans across the country.
In addition to her repeated efforts to prevent Congressional pay raises, Representative Craig has authored the HUMBLE Act, which would impose a lifetime ban on lobbying for Members of Congress. She has also introduced resolutions to ban lawmakers from serving on for-profit boards and prohibit individual stock ownership while serving in Congress.
You can find the full text of the letter
June 23, 2021
The Honorable Tim Ryan
Chairman
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations
H-306, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jaime Herrera Beutler
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations
1036 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Herrera Beutler:
Thank you for your continued leadership as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that have arisen so far in the 117th Congress. As you consider spending proposals in the 2022 Legislative Branch appropriations bill, we urge you to prevent a pay raise for Members of Congress from appearing in any final bill language.
For the last year and a half, hardworking Americans in our districts and across the country have been fighting to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn. Many of them have lost their jobs and livelihoods. Countless more have been forced to make difficult decisions about childcare, education, workforce participation, and healthcare because of forces out of their control. To be clear: these hardworking Americans have not been able to give themselves raises. Members of Congress should not do so either.
As we work to respond effectively to the pandemic and build back better, it is imperative that we make strategic investments that directly and positively impact constituents in our districts. Congress has demonstrated its ability to make these types of bipartisan investments with legislation like the CARES Act already. We must continue to do so.
Now is not the time to write ourselves bigger checks. Now is the time to renew our focus on crafting bipartisan legislation that invests in the American people and helps us build back better.
Thank you for the consideration of this request. We appreciate your work, and we look forward to further conversations on how best to ensure that the Legislative Branch continues its leadership coming out of COVID-19.