MARINE CORPS VETERAN JOHN LIRA ANNOUNCES THE SALUTE ACT WILL BE HIS FIRST BILL IN CONGRESS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2025
Contact: Juan Rodriguez
312-771-0263
MARINE CORPS VETERAN JOHN LIRA ANNOUNCES THE SALUTE ACT WILL BE HIS FIRST BILL IN CONGRESS
Proposal Guarantees Military Pay During Shutdowns — Withholds Pay for Congress Members If Troops Aren’t Paid
San Antonio, TX — As the nation prepares to honor military service on Veterans Day, John Lira, Marine Corps veteran and candidate for Texas’s newly redrawn 35th Congressional District, today announced his first piece of legislation if elected: The SALUTE Act — Securing Active-duty Livelihoods Under Temporary Emergencies.
The bill would permanently ensure that America’s active-duty troops, National Guard, and Reserves continue to receive full pay and benefits during any government shutdown — just like Members of Congress do. No pay for service members will mean no pay for Congress members.
Watch Lira’s message on The SALUTE Act
“If Congress gets paid, our troops should too — period,” said Lira. “No politics. No delays. Just paychecks on time. Maybe politicians in Washington will work harder to figure out how to prevent a shutdown when their taxpayer-funded paychecks are on the line like they have been for our men and women in uniform.”
With the 2025 government shutdown now the longest in history, nearly 250,000 federal employees and military members in Texas have been at-risk of missed paychecks. For many families already struggling to afford basic needs, that means deciding whether to pay rent, buy groceries, or fill the tank.
“When you’re deployed, you’re focused on protecting your brothers and sisters - not whether Congress passed a budget,” Lira said. When I volunteered to serve, I did so believing the country had my back. But during this government shutdown, while our troops should be focused on their mission, they are having to worry about whether their families back home can pay rent and buy groceries because their paychecks are not guaranteed. That’s not American. That’s not having our back and that damn sure not thanking us for our service.”
Lira’s SALUTE ACT would provide permanent protection for America’s military families during lapses in federal funding, holding their salaries to the same standard as Members of Congress — ensuring accountability for politicians and stability for those who serve.
Lira, a fourth-generation Mexican-American from San Antonio’s Southeast Side, dedicated 13 years to the U.S. Marine Corps, completing two combat tours in Iraq. After his service, he leveraged the GI Bill to earn degrees from the University of Texas San Antonio and Carnegie Mellon. He then took his expertise to Washington, serving in Congress, Americorps, and the Small Business Administration, where he helped veterans launch businesses.
“This isn’t about politics — it’s about priorities,” said Lira. “If I’m elected to Congress, I’ll make sure Washington remembers and values those who serve this country in uniform.”
Resources for Texans affected by the shutdown are available through Feeding Texas, which is providing food and aid statewide.
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About John Lira:
John is a fourth-generation Mexican American from San Antonio’s Southeast Side. At only 17, Lira raised his hand and swore an oath to protect and defend the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served 11 years, including two deployments to Iraq. Using the GI Bill, he became the first in his family to graduate from college, first at San Antonio College and later at The University of Texas-San Antonio, and later earned a master’s from Carnegie Mellon University.
He continued public service in the U.S. House of Representatives as a legislative fellow, a management and program analyst at the Small Business Administration, in AmeriCorps, and on a national commission focused on military, national, and public service.
Lira is married to Dr. Michelle Espino Lira and is the father of one daughter, Rozlyn.
More at liraforcongress.com