Congressman Van Drew Renews Call for Immediate Pay for Workers and No Pay for Congress During Shutdown

This press release from Representative Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) was published on 2026-03-19 and titled "Congressman Van Drew Renews Call for Immediate Pay for Workers and No Pay for Congress During Shutdown".

Congressman Van Drew Renews Call for Immediate Pay for Workers and No Pay for Congress During Shutdown

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement regarding the ongoing partial shutdown. "This has gone on long enough," said Congressman Van Drew. "The people paying the price right now are the ones showing up every day to do their jobs: TSA agents, Coast Guard members, and others who keep this country running. They are doing everything we ask of them, day in and day out, and they are not being paid for it. It is not right. And that is exactly why Members of Congress should not be paid during a shutdown. If these workers are going without, then we should be going without too. We should be feeling that same pain until this gets fixed. That is why I am sponsoring a bill to ensure that while the government shuts down, Members of Congress do not receive their pay. The Constitution sets clear rules on congressional pay, so this has to be done the right way, but there is a path to make sure Members do not take home a paycheck while the job is not done. Maybe then they will think twice before using people's livelihoods as leverage in a political fight."