No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3582
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-02T11:03:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act" aims to prevent the use of federal money to pay or reimburse individuals who were prosecuted or convicted for their role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It ensures that such individuals, even if later pardoned, cannot receive compensation from government funds or have their court payments refunded.
Key Provisions
- Ban on Federal Compensation: No federal funds—including those from the Judgment Fund (a general account used to pay certain legal claims against the government) or any victim compensation programs—can be used to compensate individuals prosecuted for the January 6 attack, regardless of a pardon.
- No New Compensation Fund: The government is prohibited from creating any dedicated fund to pay these individuals.
- No Refunds for Court Payments: The U.S. Treasury cannot refund any money paid by convicted individuals as court-ordered restitution (repayments to victims), fines, or special assessments (additional fees imposed by courts). This applies even if the individual is later pardoned.
- Transfer of Funds: Any money collected from these court payments must be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol (the official responsible for maintaining the Capitol building and grounds).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill overrides other laws that might allow federal funds to be used for compensation or refunds in legal cases.
- It specifically blocks access to the Judgment Fund and victim compensation programs for this group, creating an exception not previously in place.
- It mandates redirection of collected fines and restitution to the Architect of the Capitol, rather than returning them to the payers or using them elsewhere.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (which handles prosecutions), the Treasury Department (which manages funds), and the Architect of the Capitol (which receives transferred funds) will face new restrictions on spending and new administrative duties for transfers. This could reduce flexibility in handling legal settlements related to January 6 cases.
- On Citizens: Individuals prosecuted or convicted for the January 6 attack will be unable to seek federal compensation or refunds, potentially affecting their financial recovery even after a pardon. Victims of the attack may indirectly benefit if funds are redirected to Capitol maintenance.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts are outlined, as the bill focuses on domestic events and U.S. federal funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Prosecuted or Convicted Individuals: Those involved in the January 6 attack, including anyone pardoned, who lose eligibility for federal payments or refunds.
- Federal Agencies: Treasury (fund management and transfers), Department of Justice (prosecutions and settlements), and Architect of the Capitol (receives redirected funds).
- Victims and Congress: Indirectly, victims of the attack and the legislative branch may see benefits from preserved or redirected funds for Capitol repairs or operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill creates a targeted prohibition that could complicate pardon powers (under Article II of the Constitution, the president can pardon federal offenses), as pardoned individuals still face funding restrictions. It may also raise questions about retroactive application to past convictions.
- Constitutional Implications: This could be challenged as a "bill of attainder" (a law punishing specific people without trial, prohibited by Article I), since it singles out January 6 participants. It might also touch on equal protection concerns under the Fifth Amendment by treating this group differently from others in similar legal situations.
- Political Implications: Introduced by a group of Democratic senators on the fifth anniversary of the attack, the bill reflects partisan divides over accountability for January 6, potentially influencing debates on executive clemency and federal spending priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (25)
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-06: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-01-06: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act — issued 2026-01-06 — PDF (3 pages)