Legislative Accountability Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3507

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-20: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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

2026-06-11T23:26:31Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Legislative Accountability Act" (H.R. 3507) aims to enhance transparency in the U.S. Congress by requiring the disclosure of individual members' contributions to bills and joint resolutions. It mandates that specific lawmakers be identified as responsible for adopted amendments or key provisions, making it easier to track who influences legislation.

Key Provisions

• Submission of Amendment Information: For any bill or joint resolution reported (formally approved) by a House or Senate committee, the committee chair must submit to the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate (depending on the chamber) the names of any members who proposed amendments that were adopted. This must occur within 3 legislative days (days when Congress is in session) of the report.
• Amendments Adopted During Floor Passage: If a bill or joint resolution passes the full House or Senate, the chair of the House Rules Committee or Senate Rules and Administration Committee must similarly submit names of members whose amendments were adopted during that process, again within 3 legislative days.
• Special Requirements for Key Committees: For bills reported by the House or Senate Appropriations Committees (which handle spending), the House Ways and Means Committee (which deals with taxes and trade), or the Senate Finance Committee (similar to Ways and Means), the chair must identify members responsible for including specific provisions in the reported bill, within 3 legislative days.
• Public Inclusion of Names: The Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and Director of the Government Publishing Office must add these names as footnotes in all versions of the bill—from reported and engrossed (prepared for passage) to enrolled (final version for the president) and enacted (signed into law). The footnotes will link the member's name to the specific amendment or provision they influenced.
• Definition: A "Member of Congress" includes senators, representatives, delegates, and the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico.
• Rulemaking Authority: The law is framed as an exercise of each chamber's internal rulemaking powers (the ability to set its own procedures), but either house can modify or override these rules as needed.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new layer of mandatory attribution not currently required in congressional procedures. Under existing rules, bills and resolutions do not routinely include footnotes crediting individual members for amendments or provisions, though some transparency exists through public records like committee reports. This change formalizes and standardizes such disclosures across most committees, especially for high-impact areas like appropriations and taxes, potentially making the legislative process more traceable without altering how bills are debated or passed.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, though agencies relying on congressional funding (via Appropriations bills) may benefit indirectly from clearer visibility into who shaped budget provisions, aiding in advocacy or compliance.
• On Citizens: Increases public access to information about lawmakers' roles in legislation, empowering voters, watchdog groups, and journalists to hold representatives accountable for specific policy changes. This could foster greater trust in the legislative process.
• On International Relations: No direct effects, as the bill focuses solely on domestic congressional operations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Members of Congress: Directly impacted, as their individual contributions to bills will be publicly attributed, potentially increasing scrutiny on their legislative actions.
• Committee Chairs and Leadership: Bear the responsibility for timely submissions, which could add administrative burdens but promote accountability within committees.
• Congressional Staff and Officers: Including the Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and Government Publishing Office staff, who must incorporate and maintain the footnotes in bill documents.
• The Public and Oversight Groups: Indirect beneficiaries through enhanced transparency, allowing easier monitoring of how laws are shaped.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal and Constitutional: By invoking each chamber's rulemaking powers under Article I of the U.S. Constitution (which grants Congress authority over its internal rules), the bill respects the separation of powers and avoids judicial interference. It explicitly allows either house to amend or repeal these requirements, preserving congressional autonomy.
• Political: Could encourage more deliberate amendment proposals by making members' influences visible, potentially reducing anonymous or last-minute changes (sometimes called "logrolling" or hidden deals). This might heighten partisan or public debates over specific provisions but aligns with broader calls for government transparency without mandating substantive policy shifts.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-20: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.
• 2025-05-20: Referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.
• 2025-05-20: Introduced in House
• 2025-05-20: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Legislative Accountability Act — issued 2025-05-20 — PDF (4 pages)