**Goodlander has led the fight to protect federal workers and hold Congress accountable since her first day in office.**
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota led a bipartisan group of freshman Members of Congress in urging Speaker Mike Johnson to bring H.R. 5891, the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act, to the House floor for a vote. The bipartisan, Goodlander-backed bill passed unanimously out of the House Administration Committee on March 18, 2026.
H.R. 5891 would place Member salaries in escrow during a government shutdown, ensuring compliance with the 27th Amendment to the Constitution while holding Congress accountable
In their letter to Republican leadership, the bipartisan Members wrote, “As new Members of Congress, we came to Washington with fresh energy and perspective, committed to delivering results and restoring trust in this institution. One of our most fundamental responsibilities under Article I of the Constitution is funding the federal government. While we will continue to have honest disagreements over spending levels and policy priorities, we can all agree that Congress must fulfill this basic duty. Yet, our freshmen term is marked with two government shutdowns, including the longest in history…We agree on a very basic principle: our constituents sent us here to govern, and a key part of governing is passing a federal budget. If we fail in this very fundamental responsibility, we should not be paid.”
The bipartisan Members urged House Leadership to bring H.R. 5891 to a vote on the House Floor immediately.
CLICK HERE to read the full letter.
Congresswoman Goodlander has made protecting federal workers from the harmful consequences of government shutdowns a defining priority of her first term — and has backed that commitment with action.
Congresswoman Goodlander is leading the bipartisan Shutdown Fairness Act, legislation to guarantee that all federal employees, servicemembers, reservists, and contractors are paid in full and on time during any government shutdown. The bill does not authorize new spending; it ensures workers receive their regular paychecks rather than waiting weeks or months for back pay after a shutdown ends.
She is also leading the bipartisan Pay Our Public Shipyard Workers Act alongside Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), legislation to guarantee that the civilian and military workforce at America’s public shipyards — including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire — continues to be paid during government shutdowns.
“The women and men of America’s public shipyards are mission-critical for our national security. These hardworking patriots have some of the toughest and most important jobs. They should never go a day without a paycheck they have earned,” said Congresswoman Goodlander.
Congresswoman Goodlander has refused to accept her congressional salary during every federal shutdown since she took office, in September and again in February, consistent with her pledge from the first day she took office.
As today marks Day 59 of the partial government shutdown, House and Senate Democrats have tried to pass bills to fund TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and other important functions of the Department of Homeland Security at least 15 times.
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