Inaction Has Consequences Act

HR 209, the "Inaction Has Consequences Act," requires that if either the House or Senate fails to pass all annual budget bills by the start of a fiscal year (beginning in 2026), the salaries of Members of Congress serving in that chamber will be held in an escrow account. This mechanism directly affects all Representatives and Senators (including delegates and resident commissioners) who serve in the chamber that misses the budget deadline. The escrow holds payments until either the budget bills are passed or the end of the current Congress, whichever comes first. The bill ensures salaries are released automatically on the last day of the Congress if the deadline isn't met. It applies separately to each chamber and defines "regular appropriation bills" as those handled by single subcommittees in each house.