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# New Bill Proposes Required 40-Hour Workweek for All U.S. Lawmakers
- URL: https://ivn.us/new-bill-proposes-required-40-hour-workweek-all-us-lawmakers/
- Published: 2015-10-06T16:47:32.000Z
- Updated: 2022-10-19T05:56:25.000Z
- Author: Ben Swann
- Tags: News

A bill proposed by Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) calls for a mandated 40-hour workweek for all members of Congress while they are in Washington.

[House Resolution 457](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-resolution/457?ref=ivn.us) states that it seeks to amend *“the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that the House be in session at least 40 hours each week other than a week that is designated as a district work period.”*

Jolly, who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2016, [said](http://wfla.com/2015/10/05/bill-supports-40-hour-work-weeks-for-members-of-congress/?ref=ivn.us) he is sponsoring the bill because he sees a frustration among the public that Congress has not *“engaged in a legislative fight to begin to advance the agenda that is right for the American people.”*“Americans

*are sick and tired of Washington inaction,”* Jolly said. *“They expect their leaders to govern. Look at all the bills gathering dust while Congress braces for the next self-made calamity. Let’s give voice to the people on issues like border security, transportation, a budget that finally balances.”*

The Hill [noted](http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/255974-gop-lawmaker-calls-for-40-hour-congressional-workweeks?ref=ivn.us) that during a typical workweek in Washington, *“House members come in Monday evenings for votes at 6:30 p.m. and depart for their districts by early afternoon Thursday,”* and then *“alternately, the House convenes on Tuesdays and remains in session until Friday.”*

This proposal comes after Jolly [wrote](http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/218533-freshman-lawmaker-calls-for-five-day-congressional-workweek?ref=ivn.us) a letter to the House Rules Committee in Sept. 2014 calling for a similar change, and requesting that while in session, workweeks run *“from 8:00 a.m. on Monday until 6:00 p.m. on Friday.”*

A press release on the bill [stated](http://wfla.com/2015/10/05/bill-supports-40-hour-work-weeks-for-members-of-congress/?ref=ivn.us) that over the last 20 years, while Congress has been in session for about 137 days each year, the typical American works 40-hour, 5-day workweeks, and spends about 241 days at work each year.

*“This ‘try-nothing’ Congress needs a reality check,”* Jolly said. *“A work week in Washington should be no different than a work week in every other town across the nation.”*

*Editor's note: This article, written by Rachel Blevins, originally published on Truth in Media on Tuesday, [October 6, 2015](http://truthinmedia.com/us-lawmaker-bill-40-hour-work-weeks-congress/?ref=ivn.us), and has been slightly modified for publication on IVN.*

*Photo Credit: [Orhan Cam](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-299821577/stock-photo-the-capitol-building-in-washington-dc-united-states.html?src=yORKp5oFAjEOg85atbpzmA-1-36&ref=ivn.us) / [shutterstock.com](http://www.shutterstock.com/?ref=ivn.us)*