WASHINGTON, DC - With a potential federal government shutdown looming, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced he will forgo his salary if the government shuts down.  As he did during the Gingrich-led shutdown of 1996, Reed plans to donate the funds to the United Way.

"Our job is to keep the government working effectively.  If the government shuts down, Congress isn't doing its job and therefore shouldn't get paid," said Reed.  "If Republicans carry out their threat to shut the government down, millions of workers, soldiers, contractors, and business people won't get paid.  It is only fair for members of Congress to share in the hardship."

By law, members of Congress and the President will continue to get paid if the government is forced to shut down because they are paid through mandatory spending that is required by statute -- and not through the appropriations bills that fund the federal government.

On March 1st Senator Reed helped pass a bill in the U.S. Senate to cut off the pay of Congress and the President in the event of a shutdown.  The bill would also block any retroactive payments once a budget deal for the rest of fiscal 2011 is enacted.  However, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has refused to bring the bill to the floor for a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

"I hope Speaker Boehner will either accept a historic cut of $38 billion to avoid a shutdown or pass the Senate bill to bar Congressional pay until this situation is resolved," concluded Reed.