Anti-Cash Grab Act

Bill Number

S. 3195

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-12-05T17:04:25Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Anti-Cash Grab Act" (S. 3195) aims to repeal a specific provision in a recent appropriations law that altered rules for the legislative branch, restoring prior legal requirements to prevent what the bill's sponsors view as an unauthorized or burdensome change.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is officially named the "Anti-Cash Grab Act."
• Repeal and Restoration: It fully repeals Section 213 of Division C in the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-37).
• Restoration of Prior Law: Upon repeal, Section 10 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005 (codified at 2 U.S.C. § 6628) is automatically restored to its original state, as if Section 213 had never been enacted. (Note: 2 U.S.C. § 6628 generally governs administrative procedures for the legislative branch, such as handling fees or payments related to congressional operations.)
• Effective Date: The repeal takes effect retroactively, as if it was part of the original 2026 appropriations act.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill reverses a targeted amendment introduced in the 2026 appropriations act (Section 213), which modified legislative branch procedures—likely involving financial or administrative "grabs" (e.g., fees or reallocations), based on the bill's title and context.
• It reinstates the 2005 law's framework without introducing new rules, effectively undoing a recent congressional change through a simple repeal mechanism.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Primarily affects the legislative branch (e.g., Congress and its support offices like the Architect of the Capitol or Library of Congress), by eliminating a procedural change that could have imposed additional financial burdens or altered payment processes.
• On Citizens: Indirectly benefits the public by preserving established rules for congressional operations, potentially avoiding higher costs or inefficiencies passed on through taxpayer-funded activities; no direct impact on individual rights or services.
• On International Relations: None apparent, as the bill focuses on domestic legislative procedures.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Legislative Branch Officials and Staff: Congress members, committees (e.g., the Committee on the Judiciary, where the bill was referred), and administrative entities dealing with budgets and fees.
• Bill Sponsors: A bipartisan group of 35 senators (mostly Democrats, including Mr. Heinrich as lead sponsor), indicating support from those concerned with legislative integrity.
• Taxpayers and Oversight Groups: Those monitoring federal spending, as the repeal could prevent perceived wasteful or unauthorized financial practices in Congress.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The repeal uses a straightforward statutory mechanism to override a provision in a public law, highlighting Congress's power to self-correct via subsequent legislation; the retroactive effective date ensures seamless restoration without ongoing legal challenges.
• Constitutional: Reinforces separation of powers by allowing Congress to refine its own operational rules, potentially upholding principles of fiscal accountability under Article I (congressional authority over appropriations).
• Political: Signals internal congressional debate over appropriations riders (temporary provisions in funding bills), with the bill's title suggesting criticism of "cash grabs" as politically motivated add-ons; its referral to the Judiciary Committee may lead to broader discussions on legislative transparency, though passage depends on bipartisan support in a divided Congress.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

Cosponsors (34)

Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-11-18: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Anti-Cash Grab Act — issued 2025-11-18 — PDF (2 pages)