End Government Pensions for Sexual Abusers Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8898
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 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
- 2026-07-10T08:06:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to deny federal retirement benefits to current or former Members of Congress, as well as their survivors or beneficiaries, who are convicted of specified sexual offenses. It establishes a mechanism to redirect forfeited benefits toward victims where court orders require it.
Key Provisions
- Benefit Denial: Amends title 5 of the U.S. Code by adding section 8312a, which prohibits annuity or retired pay for service creditable toward such benefits if the individual is convicted of listed offenses under title 18, including sexual abuse (sections 2241–2245), child pornography (sections 2251, 2252, 2260), sex trafficking (section 1591), obscenity (chapter 71), and peonage (chapter 77). The prohibition applies to offenses committed on or after the date of enactment, including ongoing conduct.
- Foreign Convictions: Allows denial based on a conviction in a foreign court if the Attorney General certifies that the conduct would qualify as an offense under U.S. law, due process standards were met, and the conviction is final. The individual may seek review in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
- Flight to Avoid Prosecution: Suspends benefits for individuals under indictment who remain outside the U.S. (including territories) for more than one year. Suspension ends upon dismissal of charges, return and dismissal, or acquittal.
- Victim Payments: Permits the administering agency to pay amounts from forfeited benefits directly to victims to satisfy court-ordered restitution or garnishment, up to the forfeited amount. No refunds of contributions are allowed to the extent they are paid to victims.
- Interest on Refunds: Amends section 8316 to prevent accrual of interest on refunds for individuals convicted under the new section after the conviction date.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill expands existing forfeiture rules in subchapter II of chapter 83 (which already deny benefits for certain offenses like espionage under section 8312) by adding a new section specifically targeting sexual offenses for Members of Congress. It introduces provisions for foreign convictions, flight-related suspensions, and victim-directed payments not previously detailed in this context.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires the Attorney General to notify pension-administering agencies of convictions and handle certifications for foreign cases. Agencies must adjust payment processes and comply with victim orders, potentially increasing administrative workload.
- Citizens: Prevents affected Members of Congress from receiving federal pensions; allows victims to receive compensation from those funds.
- International Relations: Establishes a process for recognizing foreign convictions, which could affect how U.S. benefits are handled in cross-border legal matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Current and former Members of Congress and their survivors or beneficiaries.
- Victims of the specified offenses.
- Federal agencies responsible for administering retirement benefits.
- The Department of Justice (for notifications and certifications).
- The U.S. Court of Federal Claims (for reviews of foreign conviction certifications).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill includes due process safeguards for foreign convictions and judicial review, which address potential challenges related to fairness in benefit denials. It references existing exceptions in sections 8311(2) and (3) for certain cases. The measure was introduced on a bipartisan basis and focuses on conduct-based forfeiture tied to specific criminal convictions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- End Government Pensions for Sexual Abusers Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (8 pages)