Congress proposes stripping pay from long-serving members—but lets them stay
H.R. 9230 — Statutory Term Limits on Congressional Pay and Power Act · Filed by Chip Roy (R-TX) · Introduced Jun 9, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill would prohibit members of Congress who have served 12 or more cumulative years in either chamber from receiving their salary or holding leadership positions (committee chairs, party leadership roles) after reaching that 12-year threshold. The stated intent is to impose a form of term-limit-adjacent restriction on long-serving members, though it does not prevent them from remaining in office or voting.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a procedural rule change that restricts the compensation and leadership eligibility of long-serving members of Congress. It is not a substantive policy bill affecting the public directly, but rather an internal congressional governance mechanism.
What the text implies
- The bill does not prevent long-serving members from remaining in office or voting, creating a scenario where senior legislators retain voting power but lose salary and influence—potentially destabilizing committee work and legislative expertise.
- The effective date (121st Congress, 2029+) means the bill would not affect current members until years after passage, reducing immediate political pressure on sponsors and creating a delayed-action governance change.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill creates a novel penalty for legislative seniority that could reduce experienced legislators' effectiveness and institutional knowledge, potentially harming legislative quality and constituent representation. However, it may also reduce entrenchment and create opportunities for new voices.