IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 938 

Expressing support for a comprehensive political reform plan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 14, 2023 

Mr. KHANNA submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House 

Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for a comprehensive political reform plan. 

Whereas public trust in the Government has been declining 

for decades, with nearly 70 percent of Americans indicating distrust in the Government each year since 2007; 

Whereas demand for major Government reform has increased 

to 59 percent of Americans in 2023; 

Whereas the lack of congressional term limits allows for a 

steep incumbency advantage—to the extent that each 

year since 1982, over 75 percent of incumbents in the 

House and the Senate have won their reelections—preventing true representation and democracy for constituents; 


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•HRES 938 IH 

Whereas 5 out of 6 Americans favor a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Members of Congress; 

Whereas congressional term limits would limit the entrenchment of special interests and the concentration of power 

within the elected bodies, and allow for a more democratic, representative, and diverse Congress; 

Whereas Members of Congress should be responsive to the interests of their constituents, rather than the interests of 

political action committees and wealthy political donors; 

Whereas 77 percent of the public agrees that there should be 

limits on the amount of money individuals and organizations can donate to political campaigns; 

Whereas banning congressional candidates from accepting 

campaign contributions from political action committees 

would give American voters stronger voices in our democracy; 

Whereas Members of Congress should not be able to hold, unless in a blind trust, and trade stocks while retaining access to confidential information or crafting policies, as 

this leads to conflicts of interest, corruption, and even the 

possibility of insider trading; 

Whereas over 80 percent of Americans across political parties 

support a ban on Members of Congress holding and trading stocks; 

Whereas banning stock trading by requiring Members of Congress to place any investments in blind trusts effectively 

bans Members of Congress from trading individual 

stocks, and would prevent corruption; 

Whereas over half of the lawmakers who left office in 2019 

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paying, influence-peddling roles in the lobbying industry, 

creating countless possibilities for conflicts of interest; 

Whereas almost 1 in 3 Americans believe Members of Congress should never be allowed to lobby their former colleagues, with 65 percent supporting a 5-year-lobbying 

ban at minimum; 

Whereas a lifetime ban on lobbying for Members of Congress 

will reduce the outsized influence that special interests 

have on policymaking, and will increase transparency and 

accountability for Americans; 

Whereas recent investigations into the Supreme Court have 

uncovered countless instances of Justices filing deficient 

financial disclosures, receiving extravagant gifts, misusing staff, and otherwise prioritizing personal gains over 

behavior fitting for members serving on the Nation’s 

highest Court; 

Whereas confidence in the Supreme Court reached a historic 

low in 2022, dropping to just 25 percent of American 

voters; 

Whereas an enforceable code of conduct for Supreme Court 

Justices would increase transparency, restore faith in the 

Court, and prevent conflicts of interest; 

Whereas though originally intended to ensure independence 

and stability, lifetime appointments to the Supreme 

Court enshrine political bias, inflexibility, and a lack of 

accountability; 

Whereas 68 percent of Americans believe Supreme Court 

Justices should be subject to term limits; 

Whereas 18-year term limits and regular appointments for 

Supreme Court Justices will depoliticize, rebalance, and 

restore judicial independence to the Court; 


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Whereas there are existing legislative efforts to address each 

of these issues; 

Whereas H.R. 9134, introduced in the 117th Congress, would 

prohibit Members of Congress and those running for 

House or Senate seats from accepting contributions from 

political action committees; 

Whereas multiple bills would institute a lifetime lobbying ban 

on Members of Congress; 

Whereas multiple bills, including H.R. 345, introduced in the 

118th Congress, would ban Members of Congress from 

holding and trading individual stocks during the Member’s tenure; 

Whereas multiple bills, including H.J. Res. 4, introduced in 

the 116th Congress, would establish 12-year term limits 

for Members of Congress; 

Whereas multiple bills, including H.R. 4423, introduced in 

the 118th Congress, would institute 18-year Supreme 

Court Term Limits and regular appointments; and 

Whereas multiple bills, including H.R. 3973, introduced in 

the 118th Congress, would establish a Supreme Court 

Code of Ethics: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes the importance of a comprehensive plan for political 

3 reform which— 

4 (1) prohibits all Members of Congress and 

5 those running for a House or Senate seat from ac6 cepting contributions from political action commit7 tees and lobbyists, and imposes a lifetime lobbying 

8 ban on Members of Congress; 


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•HRES 938 IH 

1 (2) bans Members of Congress from holding 

2 and trading individual stocks during the Member’s 

3 tenure; 

4 (3) establishes 12-year term limits for Members 

5 of Congress; 

6 (4) institutes a binding code of ethics for Su7 preme Court Justices; and 

8 (5) implements 18-year term limits and regular 

9 appointments for Supreme Court Justices. 

Æ 


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