HUMBLE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2624

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.

Last Updated

2025-10-09T03:26:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The HUMBLE Act aims to enhance ethics and accountability in Congress by restricting post-office lobbying, limiting official travel perks, eliminating automatic pay increases for Members, curbing certain benefits for former House Members, and prohibiting House Members from owning individual stocks or serving on for-profit boards. It seeks to reduce perceived undue privileges and potential conflicts of interest among lawmakers.

Key Provisions

• Lifetime Lobbying Ban for Former Members and Officers: Amends federal criminal law (18 U.S.C. § 207) to prohibit former Senators, House Members, or elected officers from ever communicating with or appearing before Congress to influence actions on behalf of any non-government entity after leaving office. Violations are punishable under existing penalties. Applies to those leaving office on or after enactment.
• Coach-Class Travel Requirement: Prohibits using federal funds for official travel by Members of Congress or legislative branch employees in anything other than coach-class airline seats (defined as the lowest basic fare, including economy or tourist class). Exceptions allow premium seating only if justified under federal travel rules for executive agencies (e.g., for medical needs or efficiency). Takes effect in fiscal year 2026.
• Restrictions on Benefits for Former House Members: Bars former House Members from accessing certain perks, such as the House chamber, athletic facilities, Members' Dining Room, parking spaces, House document room materials, or full-use library privileges, unless available to the public. The Speaker and Minority Leader can jointly waive this on a case-by-case basis, with waivers published in the Congressional Record within 24 hours.
• Ban on Individual Stock Ownership for House Members: Adds a rule to the House Ethics Rules prohibiting House Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners from owning common stock in any individual corporation. Effective January 3, 2027 (start of the 120th Congress).
• Prohibition on Serving on For-Profit Boards: Further amends House Ethics Rules to bar House Members from serving on boards of directors for any for-profit entity.
• Elimination of Automatic Pay Adjustments: Repeals the provision in the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act that automatically ties congressional pay raises to Employment Cost Index adjustments. Future raises would require explicit congressional approval. Applies to pay periods after the first general federal election post-enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Lobbying Restrictions: Expands current one- or two-year cooling-off periods under 18 U.S.C. § 207 to a permanent lifetime ban specifically for influencing Congress, removing prior exceptions for elected officers and tightening definitions to exclude them from staff rules.
• Travel Rules: Introduces a new statutory limit on legislative branch travel funding, aligning it partially with executive branch standards (41 C.F.R. §§ 301-10.121–125) but applying more broadly without prior exemptions for Congress.
• Pay Adjustments: Removes the automatic mechanism for salary increases (previously adjusted annually based on private-sector wage growth), shifting to manual, vote-based decisions, which contrasts with the prior "set-it-and-forget-it" system.
• House Rules Amendments: Adds enforceable ethics clauses to House Rule XXIII, previously silent on stock ownership and for-profit board service, redesignating clauses for clarity.
• Benefits Access: Newly codifies restrictions on former Members' privileges, which were previously discretionary, with transparency requirements for waivers.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Legislative branch offices (e.g., House Administration) may face administrative burdens in enforcing travel rules, tracking waivers, and complying with new ethics reporting. Could reduce taxpayer spending on travel (estimated savings from coach-only flights) and perks.
• On Citizens: May foster greater public trust in Congress by addressing perceptions of elitism and corruption, potentially lowering costs passed to taxpayers via reduced federal expenditures on salaries and travel. No direct impact on individual citizens' rights or services.
• On International Relations: Minimal to none, as the bill focuses on domestic congressional operations without affecting foreign policy, treaties, or diplomatic travel.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Current and Former Members of Congress: Directly restricted in post-office activities, travel, compensation, investments, and board roles; may deter some from seeking office due to lost financial incentives.
• Legislative Branch Employees and Officers: Subject to coach-class travel limits; elected officers face new lobbying bans.
• Taxpayers and the Public: Benefit indirectly from cost savings and enhanced accountability, potentially influencing perceptions of government integrity.
• Lobbying Firms and For-Profit Entities: Reduced access to former lawmakers as influencers; corporations may lose congressional members from their boards.
• House Leadership (Speaker and Minority Leader): Gain authority (and workload) to approve benefit waivers for former Members.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens federal ethics enforcement by integrating prohibitions into criminal code and House rules, with clear penalties for lobbying violations. Travel and pay changes could invite challenges over funding appropriations, but exceptions preserve flexibility aligned with existing federal regulations.
• Constitutional Implications: The lifetime lobbying ban may raise First Amendment concerns regarding free speech and association, as it broadly restricts former officials' advocacy; courts could scrutinize if it unduly burdens political expression (similar to past challenges of revolving-door laws). Stock and board bans might face equal protection arguments if applied only to the House, though they align with anti-corruption rationales under precedent like Buckley v. Valeo (upholding campaign finance limits).
• Political Implications: Promotes bipartisan ethics reform by targeting privileges across party lines, but could politicize enforcement (e.g., waiver decisions) or lead to partisan disputes over pay votes. As an introduced bill (referred to multiple committees), passage would signal congressional self-regulation amid public demands for transparency, potentially influencing future ethics legislation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ethics, Rules, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination Act — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (8 pages)