WASHINGTON, DC — Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Jared Golden (ME-2) announced today they have successfully advocated the exclusion of a congressional pay raise in the appropriations package released by House and Senate leaders Thursday.

Earlier this month, Fitzpatrick and Golden — joined by a bipartisan group of colleagues in the House — sent a letter to the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to reject efforts to include a Cost-of-Living Adjustment, or COLA, in the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill. 

“I’m glad to see member pay raises are not included in this year’s government funding package,” Congressman Fitzpatrick said. “Hard working Americans don’t automatically receive a pay increase every year and neither should Congress. We’re here to work for our constituents and fix real issues, not raise our own salaries.”

“Every year a few members of Congress work up the nerve to advocate for pay raises and every time I have worked across the aisle to oppose them,” Congressman Golden said. “I have always said: Membership in Congress is about service, not a paycheck. At a time when members already earn far more than the average American, and when the public has little faith in their elected officials, the last thing we need is a raise.” 

The full letter to the Appropriations chairs is available here. In addition to Golden and Fitzpatrick, co-signers include Reps. Sharice Davids (KS-3), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), John Curtis (UT-3), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Angie Craig (MN-2), Don Bacon (NE-2), and Elissa Slotkin (MI-7).