HUMBLE Act

12/15/2023, 3:53 PM

Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination Act or the HUMBLE Act

This bill bans lobbying by former Members of Congress, eliminates certain benefits and services for former Members of the House of Representatives, limits the use of congressional funds for official travel, and restricts investment and other activities of House Members.

Specifically, former Senators, former House Members, or former elected officers of the House or Senate may not communicate with or appear before any Member, officer, or employee of a congressional legislative office seeking action on behalf of any other person, except the United States. (Currently, former Senators are subject to a two-year ban on lobbying, while former House Members and former elected officers are subject to a one-year ban.) Additionally, former House Members may not access certain benefits and services (e.g., access to the House Chamber, the Members' Dining Room, or parking spaces) unless those benefits and services are publicly available.

Further, when purchasing airfare, Members of Congress (and legislative branch employees) may only use official travel funds to purchase coach-class tickets unless applicable regulations would authorize the purchase of a higher class of ticket for a federal employee.

House Members may not (1) own common stock in individual corporations, or (2) serve on boards of for-profit entities.

The bill also eliminates one day of pay for each House Member for any day of a Congress during which no Speaker has been elected.

Congress
118

Number
HR - 507

Introduced on
2023-01-25

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

1/25/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination Act or the HUMBLE Act

This bill bans lobbying by former Members of Congress, eliminates certain benefits and services for former Members of the House of Representatives, limits the use of congressional funds for official travel, and restricts investment and other activities of House Members.

Specifically, former Senators, former House Members, or former elected officers of the House or Senate may not communicate with or appear before any Member, officer, or employee of a congressional legislative office seeking action on behalf of any other person, except the United States. (Currently, former Senators are subject to a two-year ban on lobbying, while former House Members and former elected officers are subject to a one-year ban.) Additionally, former House Members may not access certain benefits and services (e.g., access to the House Chamber, the Members' Dining Room, or parking spaces) unless those benefits and services are publicly available.

Further, when purchasing airfare, Members of Congress (and legislative branch employees) may only use official travel funds to purchase coach-class tickets unless applicable regulations would authorize the purchase of a higher class of ticket for a federal employee.

House Members may not (1) own common stock in individual corporations, or (2) serve on boards of for-profit entities.

The bill also eliminates one day of pay for each House Member for any day of a Congress during which no Speaker has been elected.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members and elected officers of Congress from lobbying Congress at any time after leaving office, to prohibit the use of funds for official travel expenses of Members of Congress and legislative branch employees for airline accommodations other than coach class, to reduce the pay of Members of the House of Representatives if a Speaker is not elected on the first day of a Congress, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Congress

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/2/2023

Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination Act or the HUMBLE Act

This bill bans lobbying by former Members of Congress, eliminates certain benefits and services for former Members of the House of Representatives, limit...


Latest Action1/25/2023
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such ...