To the Honorable Members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate:

We, the undersigned citizens and constituents, demand immediate congressional action to reform your internal rules and pass binding legislation to ensure elected officials face the exact same hardships as the American people during government funding crises and budgetary impasses.

We specifically call on Congress to adopt and implement the following three mandates:

Suspend Pay and Place in Escrow: If Congress fails to pass a budget or continuing resolution on time resulting in a government shutdown, Members' salaries must be immediately suspended and placed in an escrow account. These withheld wages should not be released or retroactively paid out until the shutdown has ended. 

Stay in Session: Require both chambers to remain continuously in session, canceling all scheduled recesses and state work periods, until a federal budget is officially passed. 

Align with Everyday Americans: Ensure that lawmakers bear the consequences of their inaction, holding them to the exact same standards of financial uncertainty that millions of federal workers, service members, and contractors face when the government closes. 

It is fundamentally unjust for elected representatives to collect their full salaries and enjoy scheduled vacations while the American people bear the burden of legislative gridlock. We urge you to pass the rules and legislation needed to prioritize accountability and good governance over political inaction.