H.R. 9822: Safeguarding Ethics and Restoring Voter Expectations Act

This bill would change ethics and post-government employment rules for former members of Congress.

What it would do

• Extend the “cooling-off” period for lobbying Congress.
  • Former Senators would be barred from lobbying Members, officers, or employees of Congress for 10 years after leaving office, instead of the current 2 years.
  • Former House Members and officers would be barred from lobbying Congress for 10 years after leaving office, instead of the current 1 year.
• Bar former members of Congress from working as federal contractors for 10 years.
  • A former Senator or Representative could not receive compensation as a federal contractor during the 10 years after leaving office.
  • The bill defines “federal contractor” by reference to an existing federal rule.
• Apply only to people who leave office after the bill becomes law.
  • It would not apply retroactively to former members who already left office before enactment.

In plain terms, the bill would make it harder for recent former members of Congress to use their government experience to lobby Congress or take paid federal contracting work for a longer period after leaving office.

Relevant Companies

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