WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a push for increased fiscal accountability, Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC) has officially introduced H.R. 7628, a bill designed to end the long-standing practice of automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.
The legislation, introduced on February 25, 2026, seeks to repeal a specific provision of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 that currently allows congressional salaries to increase automatically unless lawmakers specifically vote to block them.
Congressman Norman, a vocal advocate for spending cuts and term limits, framed the bill as a necessary correction to a culture of “career politicians.” In a stinging critique of the current pay structure, Norman argued that the current system lacks the merit-based oversight found in the private sector.
“Congress is the only place in America where you can fail the people you represent and still expect a raise,” Norman stated. “That’s not public service. That’s a broken system. If they think the salary isn’t enough, they’re welcome to go home and live under the rules and laws they’ve created.”
