New Resolution Mandates Daily House Meetings, $2,500 Fines for Absent Members During Government Shutdowns

When the government shuts down, it usually means a lot of drama, a lot of finger-pointing, and a whole lot of nothing getting done in Congress. This new resolution aims to change that by forcing the House of Representatives to stay on the clock—and in the chamber—when the funding runs out.

The Show Must Go On: Mandatory Shutdown Sessions

This resolution mandates that the House must convene and meet every single day during a government shutdown. A shutdown, in this context, is defined simply as any time a federal agency or department runs out of money because Congress failed to pass a budget (Section 4). The rule is strict: they can’t just vote to adjourn or take a long break. They can only recess for up to two days, and only after they’ve already met for five days straight. After that short break, they have to put in another five straight days before they can take another one (Section 1).

The practical takeaway here is accountability. Instead of Congress skipping town while essential government services halt, this bill forces them to physically show up and be visible during the crisis they created. It means they can’t hide from the cameras or the negotiating table.

Clocking In: The Mandatory Quorum Call

This is where the rubber meets the road. On every day the House is meeting during a shutdown, Members must participate in a recorded quorum call using an electronic device to prove they are present (Section 2). Think of it as a mandatory, public time clock.

If a Member fails to record their presence for two days in a row, the fines kick in immediately. The first offense costs $500. Any subsequent offense jumps to $2,500. There is one exception: if the Member or a close family member is sick, they can notify the Speaker and skip the penalty. However, the bill doesn't define what counts as 'sick,' which leaves a bit of wiggle room (Section 2).

For the rest of us, this is a rare instance of Congress applying real-world consequences to their own attendance. If you failed to show up to your job for two days without notice, you’d face consequences far worse than a fine. This provision ensures that even the highest elected officials face a financial cost for failing to show up when their job is most critical.

The Fine Print: Paying Up and Appeals

The resolution has a clear process for handling these fines. Once issued, the fine is made public, and the Member has the right to appeal to the Committee on Ethics within a specific timeframe (Section 2).

Crucially, if a Member doesn't pay the fine within 90 days of the final decision, the Chief Administrative Officer is instructed to automatically deduct the fine amount from the Member’s net salary (Section 2). Furthermore, the bill explicitly bans Members from using campaign funds or official office budgets—like the Representational Allowance—to cover the cost of the fine. This ensures the penalty hits the Member's personal wallet, not taxpayer or donor funds.

This deduction mechanism is significant. It bypasses the usual slow-moving bureaucracy and ensures that the financial penalty is actually enforced. It’s a direct payroll deduction, similar to what many of us experience for taxes or benefits, but here it’s for failing to do the job during a crisis. The Committee on Ethics, which gains significant administrative power here, will need to create clear rules quickly to handle the appeals process fairly.