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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation that would strip congressional pensions from members convicted of serious crimes or who have been found to have engaged in sexual misconduct, amid renewed scrutiny of ethics and accountability on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers introduced a bill on Tuesday that would bar members of Congress convicted of serious crimes or found to have sexually abused or harassed staff from receiving taxpayer‑funded pensions, with one lawmaker saying Americans are “sick of being let down by the people elected to represent them."
The proposal comes as Congress faces a fresh wave of ethics scandals and growing public pressure for greater transparency and accountability among elected officials.
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If enacted, the bill would change how congressional pensions are awarded, cutting off retirement benefits for members convicted of certain crimes or found to have violated House rules on sexual misconduct.
Why It Matters
Calls to toughen congressional ethics rules have intensified following a string of misconduct allegations and resignations involving both parties.
Lawmakers backing the new bill argue that existing pension rules fail to reflect the seriousness of certain criminal behavior committed while in office.
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What To Know
The proposal, known as the Congressional Pension Integrity Act of 2026, was introduced by Representatives Suhas Subramanyam, a Virginia Democrat, and Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican; Representatives Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican; Emily Randall, a Washington Democrat; Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican; and James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat.
The bill would prohibit members of Congress convicted of a wide range of serious offenses from receiving congressional pensions funded by taxpayers.
Those offenses include rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, crimes of violence, bribery, election fraud, embezzlement, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, campaign finance violations, and sex trafficking.
It would also apply to lawmakers who engage in sexual relations with staff, sexually assault or harass employees, or otherwise break House rules governing conduct toward staff members.
“Members of Congress should be held to a high standard and serve as an example to their constituents, not embarrass the institution with criminal behavior and sex crimes,” Subramanyam said in a statement announcing the bill.
He argued that taxpayers should not be required to fund retirement benefits for lawmakers who commit “heinous crimes while serving in office.”
Luna framed the legislation as a matter of bipartisan accountability, saying no lawmaker convicted of sexual assault should continue to benefit from taxpayer‑funded pensions, regardless of party.
She said the bill reflects a basic standard that lawmakers should be willing to apply to themselves.
Supporters say the current law allows some members convicted of serious crimes to continue collecting pensions, creating what they describe as a gap between congressional accountability and public expectations.
The new bill would apply pension restrictions starting with the next Congress and would take effect after a member’s conviction, House determination of misconduct, or departure from office.
Randall said Americans are “sick of being let down by the people elected to represent them,” adding that Congress already strips pensions from members convicted of corruption and treason, and that sexual misconduct should be treated with the same seriousness.
Ethics Scrutiny Intensifies on Capitol Hill
The legislation arrives during a turbulent period for congressional ethics.
In recent weeks, three House members resigned while facing misconduct allegations, including former Representatives Eric Swalwell of California, a Democrat, and Republican Tony Gonzales of Texas.
Swalwell resigned after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, including claims involving a former staffer, surfaced amid his bid for California governor. He has denied the allegations.
Gonzales admitted to having a romantic relationship with a former staffer, which violates House rules, but has denied other allegations made against him.
At the same time, GOP Representative Cory Mills of Florida has said he will not resign while under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct, dating violence, and campaign finance violations, all of which he denies. Mills has said he is cooperating with the investigation and plans to seek reelection.
Republican Nancy Mace, one of the bill’s co‑sponsors, has separately pushed for tougher standards in Congress, recently introducing a resolution calling for Mills’ expulsion.
Announcing that effort, Mace said lawmakers should no longer allow ethical violations to be ignored on Capitol Hill.
Outside watchdog groups have endorsed the pension reform proposal as a step toward restoring trust.
Debra Perlin, vice president for policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), said Americans are increasingly asking why taxpayer dollars continue to flow to former officials who violated the public’s trust.
“When members of Congress leave office after committing violent criminal offenses, they should not be able to continue collecting American taxpayer dollars by drawing their pensions,” Perlin said, adding that CREW supports swift passage of the bill.
How Congressional Pensions Work
Members of Congress participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System, the same basic retirement program that covers most federal workers.
Lawmakers typically become eligible for a congressional pension after serving at least five years and reaching a minimum age, with the pension amount based on years of service and salary.
Under current law, pensions can be reduced or stripped in limited circumstances, such as convictions for bribery or certain corruption offenses.
However, supporters of the new legislation argue that the rules do not clearly cover many serious crimes or violations involving sexual misconduct, leaving some members able to collect pensions despite criminal convictions for offenses not covered by existing law or findings of misconduct by congressional ethics panels.
The bill would expand those restrictions, barring pension payments for members convicted of specified crimes committed while in office and, in certain cases, following formal House findings related to sexual misconduct involving staff.
What Happens Next
The Congressional Pension Integrity Act of 2026 has been referred to the House Administration Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which will determine whether to hold hearings or markups on the proposal.
If the bill is approved by one or both committees, House leadership would need to schedule it for a vote by the full chamber.
Passage in the House would then require Senate consideration, either through a companion bill or by taking up the House measure, before any final version could be sent to the president to be signed into law.
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