Lawmakers May See First Pay Raise Since 2009 in Spending Bill

A three-month continuing resolution (CR) unveiled Tuesday includes a provision that could lead to the first pay raise for lawmakers in over a decade. The 1,500-page spending bill, primarily designed to prevent a government shutdown, extends current funding levels but includes unrelated provisions from weeks of negotiations.

Since 1989, lawmakers have been entitled to automatic cost-of-living raises, but Congress has repeatedly blocked them to avoid voter backlash. Some argue the raises are necessary to offset rising living costs and ensure congressional roles remain accessible to non-wealthy candidates. Current annual salaries for rank-and-file members are $174,000, set in 2009. If raises had been implemented annually, they would have reached $243,300 by 2024, per the Congressional Research Service.

The new CR reverses language blocking a 2025 automatic pay raise, allowing for a maximum 3.8% increase, or $6,600, bringing annual salaries to $180,600. Leadership positions earn more.

The proposal faces opposition from some lawmakers. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) criticized the inclusion of member raises in the CR, stating he would vote against the bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) already faces challenges uniting Republicans over provisions in the CR.

A vote on the legislation may occur Wednesday, though the party’s 72-hour review rule could delay it until Friday, the day a government shutdown looms.