Roadmap to Congressional Reform Act

Bill: 117-hr-470
Sponsor: Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1]
Introduced: 2021-01-25 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Appropriations
Budget process
Civil actions and liability
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government liability
House of Representatives
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Income tax rates
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress
Public participation and lobbying
Senate
Tariffs
Transportation costs
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-25
text: 

Roadmap to Congressional Reform Act

 
This bill makes several modifications to congressional benefits and legislative procedures.
 
For example, the bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber that has not agreed to a budget resolution, and establishes a point of order in the House of Representatives against considering legislation that contains a congressional earmark, limited tax benefit, or limited tariff benefit.
 
The bill prohibits a recess or adjournment if Congress has not adopted a concurrent resolution on the budget or passed the regular appropriations bills for the next fiscal year by specified dates. A Member may not use any amount for official travel while this prohibition applies. 
 
The bill also allows future Members of the House of Representatives to opt out of the Federal Employees Retirement System, and it permits Members of Congress who opt out to continue to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan. 
 
Additionally, the bill requires a measure introduced in either chamber to cite the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the measure. Further, a measure must include the text of the current law being amended and show the modifications to that law. 
 
The bill withholds one day's pay from a Representative's compensation for each day the Representative uses a designated proxy to cast a vote or record their presence. 
 
Lastly, the bill imposes a permanent ban on lobbying contacts by a former Member of Congress or a former elected officer of the House or Senate.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-01-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, the Budget, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, 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: 2021-01-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, the Budget, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, 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: 2021-01-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, the Budget, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, 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: 2021-01-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, the Budget, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, 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: 2021-01-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, the Budget, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, 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: 2021-01-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-01-25
text: Introduced in House