Today Congressman Kurt Schrader continued to champion fiscal responsibility and discipline by voting for H.R. 5146 the bipartisan bill to stop an automatic cost of living increase for Members of Congress in fiscal year 2011. 

H.R. 5146 states that automatic increases in pay also known as “cost of living adjustments” (COLA) be ceased for fiscal year 2011, saving American taxpayers more than $855,000.

“At a time when Oregon families are hurting, it would be inappropriate for members of Congress to accept a cost of living adjustment,” said Schrader. “While Oregonians are tightening their belts, we in Congress have a responsibility to do so as well.”

Members were scheduled to receive an automatic 0.9% pay increase to compensate for increases in cost of living. The passage of H.R. 5146 will block the automatic payment increase for FY 2011 prohibiting members from receiving the increase in salary.

Last year, Congressman Schrader voted for H.R. 156 a bill that successfully blocked the automatic cost of living increase for FY 2010 as well. The scheduled increase for FY 2010 was estimated to be around 1.5% and would have increased members’ salaries by $2,610 annually.

Congressman Schrader also sponsored a bill, H.R. 4255, the Stop the Automatic Pay Raise for Members of Congress in FY 2011 Act which is nearly identical to that of H.R. 5146.