Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act

Bill: 117-hr-753
Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8]
Introduced: 2021-02-03 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
District of Columbia
Federal officials
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
House of Representatives
Intergovernmental relations
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress
Public participation and lobbying
Senate
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: 

Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act

 
This bill establishes requirements for Members of Congress related to consideration of appropriations bills, lobbying activities, and retirement benefits.
 
Specifically, the bill prohibits (1) the House of Representatives from adjourning for more than three calendar days in August until it has approved annual appropriations bills for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of that year, and (2) Congress from adjourning for more than three calendar days between October 1 and the end of the congressional session until the annual appropriations bills are presented to the President.
 
Neither chamber may recess or stand adjourned longer than 24 hours during any calendar year until Congress has agreed to a budget resolution for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year that projects a balanced budget by the last fiscal year covered by the resolution.
 
The bill establishes a five-year ban on (1) individuals appointed to executive schedule positions from engaging in lobbying activities in the executive branch, and (2) lobbying activities by Members of Congress.
 
 The Office of Government Ethics may waive lobbying restrictions for certain employees if it determines that the restrictions would create an undue hardship in obtaining qualified personnel for agency positions and granting such waiver would not create the potential for undue influence or unfair advantage.
 
The bill excludes future Members of Congress from the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and requires Members currently enrolled in FERS to opt in to continue their enrollment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, Oversight and Reform, and 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.
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, Oversight and Reform, and 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.
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, Oversight and Reform, and 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.
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, Oversight and Reform, and 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.
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, Oversight and Reform, and 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.
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-03
text: Introduced in House