As Washington heads toward a government shutdown, an Alabama congressman asked the House to withhold his paycheck should the deadline to fund the government pass Saturday night without an agreement.

“Members of Congress should not receive a paycheck when our men and women in uniform, our border patrol agents, and other federal employees do not get paid,” said Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile.

Carl made the request in a letter to the House chief administrative officer on Friday.

“Please withhold my pay until an appropriations agreement has taken effect,” the congressman wrote.

While most federal employees do not receive paychecks during a government shutdown, members of Congress are able to collect their salaries since their pay is considered appropriations.

Congress needs to pass legislation to fund the government by midnight Saturday to avert a shutdown.