Bills
| 3.23.22

Should Former Members of Congress Who Become High-Paid Lobbyists be Cut Off From Their Federal Pensions? (H.R. 567)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 567?

(Updated November 17, 2020)

This bill — known as the Revolving Door Pension Prevention Act — would prohibit any former member of Congress who is a registered lobbyist earning $1 million or more per year for lobbying activities from receiving pensions from retirement and health benefit programs available to former federal employees.

Covered lobbyists who are former members of Congress would be barred from receiving benefits under the following programs:

  • The Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (including the Thrift Savings Plan);

  • The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, including dental or vision benefits.

Argument in favor

Former members of Congress who go and become lobbyists to sell their influence for over $1 million per year don’t need or deserve their federal pension and health benefits.

Argument opposed

Former members of Congress who become lobbyists are entitled to these pensions and health benefits regardless of what they do or earn after leaving Capitol Hill.

Impact

Former members of Congress who become lobbyists earning more than $1 million per year; and current members of Congress.

Cost of H.R. 567

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced this bill to stop the “revolving door” of former politicians who leave Congress only to return as high-paid lobbyists after serving their mandatory stint of not lobbying for one year after leaving Congress:

“Former members of Congress who have earned a million dollars or more in a single year as lobbyists are the last people who should be receiving federal pensions. Instead of supporting millionaires, my legislation will ensure that taxpayer funds are spent helping the middle class and working families who need it most.”

Under current law, former members of Congress are banned from lobbying their former colleagues on Capitol Hill for one year after their departure.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Glyn Lowe Photoworks / Creative Commons)