Congress moves to penalize former lawmakers who lobby
H.R. 9563 — No Cashing In Act · Filed by Chris Pappas (D-NH) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Jun 30, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires former Members of Congress to file annual financial disclosure reports for ten years after leaving office (or longer if they receive a congressional pension). It also reduces their federal pension by any income they earned in the prior year from lobbying for companies that employ more than three lobbyists or spend over $10,000 annually on lobbying.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is disclosure and financial disincentive for post-congressional lobbying. It is a straightforward ethics/accountability measure with no hidden riders or misdirection.
What the text implies
- Pension reduction may incentivize former Members to lobby through intermediaries or consulting firms not classified as 'substantial lobbying entities' to avoid the penalty.
- The ten-year disclosure window creates a long tail of public financial scrutiny that may deter some qualified candidates from seeking office if concerned about post-service privacy.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill strengthens democratic accountability by making former Members' financial activities transparent and creates a financial penalty for post-congressional lobbying, reducing the revolving-door incentive that can undermine legislative independence. Citizens benefit from clearer visibility into potential conflicts of interest and financial motivations of former lawmakers.