Sponsors (4)
The bill increases transparency and public trust by tightening post‑service lobbying rules for former Members, but it narrows career options for those officials, raises costs for some clients, and creates short‑term legal uncertainty about permissible post‑service activities.
Taxpayers and the public: the bill expands the definition of 'lobbyist' and restricts certain post-service activities by former Members, reducing behind-the-scenes insider influence and increasing transparency and public trust in Congress.
Former Members who leave office after enactment: restrictions are applied only prospectively, avoiding retroactive criminalization or regulatory changes for past conduct.
Former officeholders: will face reduced employment options and potential lost income because some private‑sector jobs that involve lobbying Congress may be off-limits.
Small businesses, nonprofits, and other clients: may lose an avenue for advocacy and could face higher costs or reduced effectiveness when trying to influence Congress without access to former Members.
Former Members and their legal counsel: may encounter legal uncertainty about what post-service activities are permissible because the bill narrows exceptions and deletes targeted language that previously guided conduct.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits former Members and elected congressional officers who leave office after enactment from registering or acting as lobbyists and expands the LDA definition of "lobbyist" to cover paid former Members.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members and elected officers of Congress from lobbying Congress at any time after leaving office.
Introduced June 3, 2026 by Barry Moore · Last progress June 3, 2026
Prohibits former Senators, Representatives, and elected officers of either chamber who leave office on or after enactment from registering or acting as lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act and from knowingly communicating or appearing before Members, officers, employees, or congressional legislative offices on behalf of others with intent to influence legislative matters they once handled; it also expands the statutory definition of “lobbyist” to expressly include any former Member of Congress who is paid to perform lobbying activities, even if they do not make in-person lobbying contacts. Changes amend federal criminal and lobbying statutes and apply only to individuals who leave office after the law takes effect.