[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PAY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995

  (Mr. BUNN of Oregon asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BUNN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, as we come to the end of the fiscal 
year, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem more 
concerned about their salaries rather than the important issue of 
balancing the budget.
  My Republican colleagues and I are committed to delivering on our 
promise of balancing the budget, and now is the time to show how 
serious we are.
  That is why I introduced H.R. 2351, the Congressional Pay 
Accountability Act. This bill will show the American people that we are 
serious. H.R. 2351 requires that Congress return to appropriating 
Members of Congress each year just as they used to do. It is simple. If 
the appropriations bills do not pass, we do not get paid.
  Yesterday, I met with Federal employees from my district who said, 
``We are scared. We have to pay rent. We have car payments to pay. We 
have food to buy for our families, and Congress is playing with our 
lives.'' I said, no; we are going to put ourselves in the same position 
that you are in and expect the same kind of treatment that you receive. 
We have to get behind balancing the budget. We have to take it 
seriously. We have to show that we are serious and will not get paid 
until the job is done.
  My bill will prove just how serious we are.
  I ask my colleagues to join me by cosponsoring this important piece 
of legislation to show the American people that we are willing to put 
our money where our mouth is.

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