No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7711
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act," aims to prevent the use of federal funds to provide compensation or refunds to individuals prosecuted or convicted for their role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It seeks to ensure that no taxpayer money benefits those involved, even if they receive a presidential pardon.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Federal Funding for Compensation (Section 2): Federal funds, including those from the Judgment Fund (a general fund used to pay certain legal claims against the government) or any victim compensation programs, cannot be used to pay individuals prosecuted for the January 6 attack. This applies even to those later pardoned. Additionally, no new fund can be created specifically to compensate these individuals.
- No Refunds for Court-Ordered Payments (Section 3): The U.S. Treasury cannot refund any money paid by convicted individuals as restitution (repayments to victims), fines, or special assessments (additional court fees). This rule also covers those pardoned. Any such collected funds must be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol (the official responsible for maintaining Capitol buildings and grounds).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Overrides other laws to explicitly block federal payments or refunds related to January 6 prosecutions, including uses of the Judgment Fund, which is typically available for settling government liabilities.
- Introduces a targeted ban on creating compensation funds, which could limit future executive or legislative efforts to provide relief to these individuals.
- Mandates redirection of collected fines and restitution to the Architect of the Capitol, altering how such penalties are handled under standard federal procedures.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (handling prosecutions), the Treasury Department (managing funds and refunds), and the Architect of the Capitol (receiving transferred funds) would face new restrictions on financial decisions, potentially increasing administrative burdens to track and redirect payments.
- On Citizens: Individuals prosecuted or convicted for the January 6 events, and possibly their families, would be ineligible for federal compensation or refunds, limiting their financial recovery options. Broader taxpayers could see reduced risk of funds supporting those involved in the attack.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic events and U.S. federal funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Prosecuted or Convicted Individuals: Primary targets, including over 1,000 people charged in connection with the January 6 attack, who would lose access to potential federal payouts or refunds, regardless of pardons.
- Federal Agencies: Department of Justice (prosecutions), Treasury Department (fund management), and Architect of the Capitol (fund recipient).
- Victims and Congress: Indirectly benefits victims of the attack (e.g., law enforcement and Capitol staff) by ensuring fines support Capitol maintenance rather than refunds.
- Taxpayers: Protected from indirect funding of those involved in the event.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill could conflict with the effects of presidential pardons, which traditionally forgive penalties including financial ones; this might lead to court challenges questioning whether Congress can limit pardon powers. It also prioritizes specific prohibitions over general laws governing federal funds.
- Constitutional Implications: Raises potential separation of powers issues, as it constrains executive (pardon) and judicial (restitution enforcement) functions through legislative action. No direct First Amendment concerns, but it targets a specific historical event.
- Political Implications: As a partisan measure introduced by Democratic representatives, it reinforces accountability for the January 6 events but could deepen divisions over the attack's legacy, especially if future administrations issue mass pardons.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act — issued 2026-02-25 — PDF (2 pages)