U.S. Rep. Jason Smith returns salary earned during shutdown

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-8th District, returned his congressional salary from the 16 days of the government shutdown to the U.S. Treasury on Monday.

In a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Finance, Smith asked that his salary from the shutdown be used towards a reduction in the national debt.

“Members of Congress are no better than anyone else. Families across the country faced furloughs because of the shutdown. In Missouri folks don’t get paid until the job is done. I returned my salary from the shutdown because Congress was not getting the job done,” said Smith. “On Oct. 1, I told my constituents that I would have my congressional salary withheld during the government shutdown and then donate those funds back to the Treasury.

“Today I am making good on that promise and I am requesting my congressional salary from the 16 days of the shutdown be used to pay down the national debt.”

During the government shutdown, Smith made a speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives challenging his colleagues in the House and members of the Senate to also have their salary withheld during the shutdown. More than 100 members of Congress joined Smith’s challenge.