From school lunches to troop pay, the daily cost of congressional salaries during a shutdown could fund real public needs.

Congress once again failed to pass the annual spending bills on time, so the federal government has shut down for the third time in less than a decade.

America’s economy will take a hit, everyday services like food safety inspections will be gutted, military members will continue to serve our country without pay, and federal workers and contractors across the country will be furloughed.

But Congress will be just fine. While our troops overseas serve without pay, members of Congress – who caused the shutdown in the first place – will keep collecting their paychecks.

Rank-and-file Senators and Representatives make $174,000 per year, while House and Senate leadership make $193,400 and the Speaker of the House takes home $223,500.

All told, the 535 members of Congress make a cumulative $93.24 million per year. That means for every day the government is shut down, Congress collects $255,442 in salary.

That adds up quickly. Here’s what $255,442 gets you:

School Lunch for 61,400 Children

The National School Lunch Program, which provides free- or reduced-price lunches for low-income students, spends $4.16 per meal. $255,442 could pay for 61,400 lunches per day.

Head Start for 5,740 Kids

Head Start is a federal program that funds pre-school for children from low-income families, at a daily cost of $44.50 per child.

Monthly rent for 127 families

The average rent for the U.S. is just over $2,000 per month, according to Zillow. Every day the government is shut down, Congress takes home what over 100 families spend on rent.

Dozens of Teachers, Cops, Nurses, and Troops

Instead of padding congressional paychecks, that same $255,442 could cover a full month of median salaries for:

  • 100 junior enlisted troops, who earn between $2,320 and $2,730 per month in basic pay.
  • 51 firefighters ($4,960/month)
  • 49 public school teachers ($5,208/month)
  • 40 police officers ($6,358/month)
  • 33 registered nurses ($7,800/month)

No Budget, No Pay

Over a decade ago, No Labels made a simple proposal: if Congress can’t pass its annual spending bills on time, members should not be paid until they do. No budget, no pay.

It was a good idea then, and it’s a good idea now.

While it’s not a law yet, some commonsense leaders in Washington have taken it upon themselves to live by this rule.

Rep. Rob Bresnahan sent a letter to the House Administrative Officer requesting his pay be withheld as long as the government is shut down, and he co-sponsored legislation to keep military troops and Border Patrol agents paid during the shutdown.

And during the last shutdown, over 100 members of Congress either donated their paychecks or refused to accept them.

How many will do the right thing this time around?