CLEAN Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8422
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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
- 2026-05-01T18:11:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8422: Clean Legislating and Ethical Accountability Now Act (CLEAN Act)
Purpose
To codify House Resolution 895 from the 110th Congress into permanent federal law, permanently establishing the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) as an ethics oversight body for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Key Provisions
- Enacts the full text of House Resolution 895 as statutory law, with eight specific modifications:
- Treats the OCE as a standing committee of the House for purposes of funding and operations under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4301(i)).
- Updates outdated references from the "Committee on Standards of Official Conduct" to the current "Committee on Ethics."
- Limits board members to no more than 4 two-year terms.
- Requires vacancies on the OCE board to be filled within 60 calendar days, including those due to term limits.
- Allows the board to continue operating despite vacancies unless fewer than 3 members remain.
- Mandates removal of any current board members exceeding the new term limits within 30 days of enactment.
- Requires notifying individuals under OCE review (preliminary or second-phase) of their right to legal counsel, with no negative inference if they invoke it.
- Prohibits the OCE from taking actions that violate constitutional rights.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Converts the OCE from a temporary House rule (established in 2008) into permanent statute, making it binding law rather than changeable by simple House vote.
- Introduces term limits, strict vacancy deadlines, operational flexibility for the board, and explicit due process protections (right to counsel and constitutional safeguards) not previously detailed in the resolution.
- Aligns terminology with current House committee names.
Potential Impacts
- House of Representatives: Creates a more independent, enduring ethics review process, potentially increasing scrutiny of members' conduct and reducing reliance on internal committees.
- Citizens and public: Enhances transparency and accountability for taxpayer-funded lawmakers by institutionalizing external-style ethics checks.
- Government operations: Affects House funding mechanisms (via standing committee status) and referral processes to the Ethics Committee; no direct impact on Senate or executive branch.
- International relations: None apparent.
Main Stakeholders
- House members and staff: Subject to OCE reviews for potential ethics violations.
- OCE board members: Face new term limits, removal rules, and operational changes.
- House Committees on Administration and Rules: Handle initial bill referral and oversight.
- Public and watchdog groups: Gain a statutorily protected channel for ethics complaints.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Elevates OCE from House rule to federal law, requiring congressional action to alter and potentially enabling judicial review.
- Constitutional: Explicitly safeguards rights (e.g., counsel, due process), reducing risks of challenges under the 5th or 14th Amendments.
- Political: Strengthens ethics enforcement independence, which could deter misconduct but spark debates over House autonomy; term limits and vacancy rules promote turnover and continuity.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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.
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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.
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Clean Legislating and Ethical Accountability Now Act — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (3 pages)