Sponsors (2)
The bill improves public transparency and constituent access about prolonged congressional absences and strengthens enforcement, but raises privacy risks for Members, could be politically weaponized, and imposes additional administrative burdens on offices.
Constituents and taxpayers will know when a Member expects to be away and why because Members must publicly disclose multiweek absences on a regular basis.
Constituents can more easily reach a Member's office during prolonged absences because offices must post contact information for a staffer paid from the Member's Representational Allowance.
Ethics committees gain clear jurisdiction to review failures to disclose absences, strengthening enforcement and potential accountability for noncompliance.
Public disclosure of absence reasons could be used politically against Members, discouraging them from being open about personal or medical matters and undermining the law's transparency goals.
Members who voluntarily disclose reasons for absence may risk exposing sensitive health information, creating privacy concerns for Members and their families despite a prohibition on requiring medical records.
Preparing and updating disclosures every 30 days and meeting filing deadlines will add administrative burden and costs for Members and their offices.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires Members to publicly disclose expected 21+ day chamber absences, updates every 30 days, and public posting by attending officers.
Official title: To require Members of Congress to provide disclosures related to absences from attendance, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 16, 2026 by Ritchie Torres · Last progress July 16, 2026
Requires Members of Congress who expect to be physically absent from chamber proceedings for at least 21 consecutive calendar days to file a public disclosure with the chamber's designated attending officer within five days of forming that expectation and to provide 30‑day updates while absent. Disclosures must state expected absence dates, why the Member will be absent, whether the Member can perform official duties (including remotely) and which duties, and contact information for an employee with access funded by the Member’s Representational Allowance. The attending officer must post disclosures online within two days of receipt. Enforcement falls to the chamber's applicable ethics committee and the rule is enacted under each House’s rulemaking power.