Drain the Swamp Act

Bill Number: H.R. 9222
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, Ways and Means, and 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: 2026-07-01T16:48:26Z

AI-Generated Summary

Drain the Swamp Act (H.R. 9222)

Purpose This bill aims to reduce perceived conflicts of interest, increase government transparency, and limit potential abuses of power by elected and appointed officials. It addresses stock trading, congressional pay, term limits, ethics, presidential authority, campaign finance, redistricting, voting rights, pensions, lawsuits, and prediction markets.

Key Provisions

Title I (Restore Trust in Government Act): Bans the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, their spouses, dependent children, and Supreme Court justices from owning or trading most securities, commodities, and derivatives. Requires divestment within 90–180 days, with exemptions for certain assets like diversified mutual funds, Treasury bonds, and small businesses.
Title II (No Pay for Congress During Default or Government Shutdown): Suspends congressional pay during government shutdowns or debt limit breaches, with escrow rules for the 119th Congress.
Title III (Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act): Establishes 18-year terms for Supreme Court justices with staggered appointments in the first and third years after presidential elections. Current justices transition to senior status.
Title IV: Proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Representatives to 9 terms and Senators to 3 terms.
Title V (Supreme Court Ethics and Investigations Act): Creates an Office of Ethics Counsel and an Office of Investigative Counsel within the Supreme Court for ethics guidance, training, and complaint investigations with subpoena power.
Title VI (Preventing Abuses of Presidential Power): Requires congressional oversight of certain pardons, bans presidential self-pardons, tolls statutes of limitations for the President and Vice President, strengthens emoluments clause enforcement, and limits certain contracts and benefits. Includes provisions on legal expense funds and inaugural committee donations.
Title VII: Proposes a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and allow regulation of campaign spending.
Title VIII (Title II of the DISCLOSE Act): Mandates disclosure of campaign-related disbursements by covered organizations, including dark money groups, and extends rules to judicial nomination advocacy.
Title IX (Ban Corporate PACs Act): Limits corporate separate segregated funds for political purposes to nonprofit corporations and restricts solicitations.
Title X (Title V of the Freedom to Vote Act): Prohibits mid-decade redistricting, establishes ranked criteria for congressional districts (population equality, Voting Rights Act compliance, communities of interest), and bans partisan gerrymandering.
Title XI (John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act): Updates Voting Rights Act provisions on vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claims; expands preclearance for covered practices; and enhances enforcement tools.
Title XII: Forfeits federal retirement benefits for Members of Congress and cabinet members convicted of certain crimes.
Title XIII: Limits the President's ability to bring certain lawsuits under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Title XIV (PREDICT Act): Prohibits covered individuals from participating in prediction markets tied to political events.

Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces new restrictions on financial activities by officials, creates specialized ethics offices, and proposes constitutional amendments on term limits and campaign finance. It modifies the Voting Rights Act with updated standards for claims and preclearance, alters Supreme Court service terms, and adds forfeiture and disclosure requirements not previously in statute. Several provisions extend or strengthen enforcement authority for the Attorney General and ethics offices.

Potential Impacts

Government agencies: Increases administrative burdens on ethics offices, the Department of Justice, Treasury, and the Federal Election Commission for enforcement, divestment oversight, and disclosures.
Citizens: May affect voting access through redistricting and Voting Rights Act changes; could alter campaign spending patterns and public trust in institutions.
International relations: Strengthens emoluments clause enforcement, potentially restricting foreign gifts and payments to officials.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal elected officials (President, Vice President, Members of Congress) and their families.
Supreme Court justices and judicial employees.
Political donors, corporations, PACs, and dark money organizations.
Voters and civil rights groups.
Federal agencies responsible for ethics, elections, and enforcement.
Former Presidents and cabinet members regarding benefits and lawsuits.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill proposes two constitutional amendments, which require ratification by three-fourths of the states. Provisions on Supreme Court term limits and emoluments enforcement raise separation of powers questions. Campaign finance and redistricting sections may face challenges under existing Supreme Court precedent. Pension forfeiture and lawsuit restrictions introduce new limitations on officials. Implementation would require significant rulemaking and could lead to litigation over definitions, thresholds, and enforcement mechanisms.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

Recent Actions

2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, Ways and Means, and 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.
2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, Ways and Means, and 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.
2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, Ways and Means, and 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.
2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, Ways and Means, and 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.
2026-06-09: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, Ways and Means, and 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.
2026-06-09: Introduced in House
2026-06-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Drain the Swamp Act — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (250 pages)