Lawmakers in both parties, including multiple House Democratic freshman in swing districts, unveiled measures Friday to prevent the first pay raise for members of Congress in a decade from going into effect.

Members of Congress would receive a $4,500 pay bump, or a 2.6 percent raise, under a spending package that the House is expected to consider next week. The package would leave out language that has blocked an annual cost-of-living adjustment for members of Congress since 2010.

"The Lowcountry elected me to ban offshore drilling, help our vets, and tackle our skyrocketing debt. One thing they didn’t elect me to do is put more money in my own pocket. Congress should focus on balancing the budget, not raising its own pay," Cunningham tweeted

McAdams similarly invoked the deficit in his opposition to the lawmaker pay raise.

"The federal budget deficit adds almost $1 trillion per year to our national debt (which is already over $22 trillion!) When you’re in a hole this deep, the first step is to stop digging," McAdams tweeted. "Today, I introduced an amendment to make sure Congress doesn’t get a pay increase."

"Congress has failed to pass a budget, failed to pass appropriations bills, repeatedly shut down the government, and allows our immigration and heath care systems to continue to deteriorate. Members of Congress don't deserve a pay raise while failing to do their job as hardworking Americans show up to work every day, complete their work, and still live paycheck to paycheck," Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

The House Rules Committee, which determines how legislation is considered on the floor, is expected to meet Monday and Tuesday to decide which amendments to the spending package will be considered.

Lawmakers instituted a pay freeze that began in 2010 amid the recession, but have been wary of the optics of voting to give themselves a raise to reflect the growing cost of living given the legislative gridlock ever since.

Rank-and-file members of Congress currently earn $174,000 annually. Members of leadership earn more, with the Speaker making $223,500 while the House majority and minority leaders earn $193,400.

Despite the six-figure salary, many lawmakers find it difficult to maintain two residences, one in Washington — which has a high cost of living — and back home. Dozens of lawmakers have taken to sleeping in their offices to avoid paying expensive D.C. rent.

Advocates for the cost-of-living increase also point to the effect on congressional staff retention, since aides can't make more than their bosses but can get higher pay in lucrative lobbying jobs.

"I think when times are bad, then members of Congress ought to as well. But, in times when it's not, I think of cost of living adjustment ... was a reasonable thing to do," Hoyer told reporters.

Other Democrats also say they're comfortable with letting the cost-of-living adjustment take effect.

Other freshmen sought to make clear the member pay issue wasn't something they hoped to focus on less than a year into their terms.



"I came to Congress to make government work for my neighbors in the Second Congressional District, bring down the price of healthcare and prescription drugs, and expand economic opportunity for farmers and small businesses. I will not support pay increases for Members of Congress," Craig tweeted.