Congressional Money Returned to America Act or the Congressional MRA Act
This bill requires funds that were provided to House offices for the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) and remain in the MRA account after all payments for the year are made to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit or debt reduction.
The MRA is an allowance that Members of the House of Representatives receive each year to operate their offices. It must be used to support official and representational duties and may not be used for personal or campaign purposes.
Annual appropriations acts that fund the legislative branch have generally included a provision that requires unused amounts remaining in the MRA to be used for deficit reduction or to reduce the federal debt. This bill makes this requirement permanent.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5305 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5305
To require any amounts remaining in the Members' Representational
Allowance at the end of a fiscal year to be deposited in the Treasury
and used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 11, 2025
Mr. Arrington (for himself, Mr. Vindman, Mr. Gosar, and Mr. Grothman)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require any amounts remaining in the Members' Representational
Allowance at the end of a fiscal year to be deposited in the Treasury
and used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Money Returned to
America Act'' or the ``Congressional MRA Act''.
SEC. 2. REQUIRING AMOUNTS REMAINING IN MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL
ALLOWANCE TO BE USED FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION OR TO REDUCE
THE FEDERAL DEBT.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
amounts appropriated for the Members' Representational Allowance of the
House of Representatives for a fiscal year which remain after all
payments are made under such Allowance for the year shall be deposited
in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction (or, if there is no
Federal budget deficit after all such payments have been made, for
reducing the Federal debt, in such manner as the Secretary of the
Treasury considers appropriate).
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration of the
House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations
to carry out this Act.
(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to
fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
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