Sponsors (5)
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
The bill tightens post‑service lobbying rules to increase transparency and reduce perceived corruption, at the cost of limiting former Members' career options and creating short‑term legal uncertainty for affected parties.
Taxpayers and the general public will face less behind-the-scenes influence because the bill expands the definition of 'lobbyist' and restricts certain post-service lobbying by former Members, increasing transparency and reducing perceived corruption in Congress.
Former Members leaving office after enactment will not be criminalized retroactively because the bill applies prospectively, protecting individuals from retroactive penalties for prior conduct.
Former officeholders and organizations that hire them (including small businesses and nonprofits) will face reduced post-service employment options and advocacy channels, which could lower former Members' income and raise costs or reduce effectiveness for clients seeking congressional engagement.
Narrowing exceptions and deleting targeted carve-outs could create legal uncertainty about permissible post-service activities until clarified by guidance or litigation, raising compliance costs and litigation risk for former Members and their legal counsel.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars former Members and elected House officers leaving office after enactment from registering as lobbyists or lobbying Congress on behalf of others; expands the LDA’s definition of “lobbyist” to include compensated former Members.
Prohibits former Senators, Representatives, and elected officers of either House who leave office on or after enactment from registering as lobbyists or knowingly communicating with Members, officers, or congressional legislative offices on behalf of another person to influence official action on matters they seek official action on. It also expands the Lobbying Disclosure Act definition of “lobbyist” to explicitly include former Members retained or employed for compensation to engage in lobbying activities, even if they do not make direct lobbying contacts. The bill modifies existing criminal conflict-of-interest law and the statutory definition used for lobbying disclosures, removes certain legacy phrasing in the criminal statute, and applies only to individuals who leave office on or after the law’s enactment date.