The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law in March 2020, providing over $2 trillion in economic relief and stimulus funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic. With a bill of this size and scope, it’s no surprise misinformation quickly spread about what was included in the package. One persistent myth circulating on social media was that Congress gave itself a pay raise through the CARES Act. This claim is completely false, but worth exploring to understand where the confusion originated.
In this article, we’ll break down what the stimulus bill actually said about congressional operations, how lawmaker pay is determined, and why the pay raise assertions don’t hold up to scrutiny. We’ll also discuss the importance of correcting misinformation to maintain public trust in government.
What the Stimulus Bill Stated About the House of Representatives
While exceedingly long at over 800 pages, the CARES Act was drafted swiftly to deliver urgently needed aid across the country. The law provided funding for public health, unemployment benefits, small businesses, corporations, state and local governments, and more.
Within the bill, there was a provision that allocated $25 million to the House of Representatives. According to section 19017:
“There is appropriated…$25,000000 to remain available until September 30, 2021, for necessary expenses of the House of Representatives to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus…”
This funding was intended to help the House adapt its operations to function safely during the pandemic. The money enabled improvements like expanding remote work capabilities, upgrading video conferencing and customer support, purchasing additional laptops and IT equipment, etc.
Why the Pay Raise Claim is False
Despite the straightforward purpose outlined above, confusion arose about whether the $25 million appropriation was secretly a pay raise for members of Congress. This is unequivocally false for several reasons:
-
The bill text did not mention congressional salaries at all. The money was clearly marked for House administrative operations.
-
House staff confirmed publicly that none of the funds would go to lawmaker pay.
-
Congressional salaries are set by a well-defined process that cannot be changed ad hoc through legislation.
Specifically, the 27th Amendment prohibits any changes to congressional pay from taking effect until after the next election. Additionally, salaries have been adjusted annually based on changes in private sector wages since 1989, removing Congress’s discretion.
So the mechanisms simply don’t exist for the CARES Act to arbitrarily increase politician pay. The core assertion contradicts the basic facts of how pay is determined.
Why This Misinformation Still Spread
Despite the clear evidence against it, the myth persisted that Congress exploited the stimulus bill to enrich themselves. There are a few reasons why:
-
General distrust of politicians makes people quick to believe accusations of self-dealing.
-
The bill was long and complex, making it plausible details were missed.
-
Early media coverage didn’t comprehensively debunk the claim.
-
Politically-motivated sources continued circulating the misinformation.
-
Social media feeds confirmation bias, allowing falsehoods to thrive if they fit an existing narrative.
Regardless of the reasons, the “Congressional pay raise” falsehood highlights the need for rigorous fact checking, especially around major legislation. Transparency and proactive communication are essential to maintain public faith in government.
Looking Forward
While Congress did not give itself a pay boost in the CARES Act, the rumor does touch on real concerns about equitable compensation. With widening income inequality, stagnant wages, and rising costs of living, we should re-examine how all workers are paid, including public servants.
In the near-term, however, it’s imperative we clarify the facts around new laws to avoid dangerous misconceptions. An informed citizenry is necessary for functional democracy. By taking the time to research each provision, understand the legislative process, and question suspect accusations, we can all promote truthful policy discourse.
Allegations that Congress used the CARES Act stimulus package to grant itself a pay raise are demonstrably false. The bill text contained no mention of salaries. Congressional pay levels are pre-determined by neutral formulas. While distrust of government helps misinformation spread easily, verifying details for ourselves is the best inoculation. Moving forward, we must push past knee-jerk reactions and dig deeper to uncover the truth – our democracy depends on it.
Fact Check: Congress Did NOT Give Itself A Pay Raise In The Pandemic Relief/Stimulus Bill
Will members of Congress get a pay raise from the stimulus?
Members of Congress will not get pay raises under any version of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, but The House and Senate are slated to receive $35 million from the stimulus. The money will help cover the costs of keeping police and child care workers in Congress and making it easier for people to work from home.
Did Congress give itself a pay raise this year?
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. Congress did not give itself a pay raise this year. THE FACTS: Most Americans got $1,200 stimulus checks in late March from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed by President Trump.
Is the Congressional pay raise on page 134 of the stimulus?
A post from March 25 is even more specific; it says that the pay raise for Congress is on page 134 of the stimulus bill. The posts were marked as fake as part of Facebook’s efforts to clean up its News Feed of false news and misinformation. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook. ) Collectively, they’ve been shared more than 140,000 times.
Does Congress want $25 million for raises?
“Congress wants $25 million for raises. That’s $46,700 each,” the text post reads. “Now who’s thinking of you. A different post from March 20 says that the House of Representatives chose to give its members an extra $8,000 a month instead of helping seniors.
What does the stimulus bill entail?
The stimulus legislation also includes billions of dollars for housing assistance and food stamp benefits. The bill sets up a $25 billion program to help bars and restaurants that had to close because of the pandemic. The legislation also includes $350 billion to help state and local governments weather their own budget woes.
How much do members of Congress get paid a year?
A report from the Congressional Research Service says that most senators and House members make $174,000. The claim that members of Congress got a pay raise in the pandemic relief package and government spending bill is FALSE, according to our research.
