The salary for a member of the House of Representatives has remained unchanged since 2009. Despite this, representatives face increasing costs to fulfill their duties. To address these expenses, the House has implemented a reimbursement program.
This program allows members to cover costs incurred while representing their constituents without the need for receipts. As a consequence, these expenses have been increasing rapidly. Arizona Congressman Abraham Hamadeh ranked second in 2025 for the highest reimbursements through this system.
In Washington D.C, it is commonly believed that Congress members raising their own salaries would be seen as unethical by voters. Therefore, creating a reimbursement program serves as an alternative solution, though the absence of receipt requirements raises concerns about uncontrolled spending.