Congresswoman Suzan DelBene will return part of her pay this year in response to the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration.

She will return 8.2 percent of her monthly paycheck to the Treasury, reflecting the federal budget cuts that took effect last month. The cuts also have impacted congressional office budgets.

DelBene represents Medina and the Points communities in Congress.

“As hundreds of thousands of federal workers face unpaid furloughs and funding for programs that working families depend on such as Head Start and Meals On Wheels are getting cut, the across-the-board cuts from sequestration are starting to impact people throughout the country,” DelBene said. “It’s only fair that elected leaders are affected as well.” said DelBene.

DelBene added that she believes across-the-board cuts are the wrong approach to address the nation’s fiscal issues.

The U.S. Constitution bars lawmakers from taking legislative action to manipulate their own salaries in the middle of their current term. Consequently, DelBene is taking the personal action to give back a portion of her salary. Additionally, DelBene plans to co-sponsor legislation that would subject the pay of members of Congress to any possible future sequestrations.