The HUMBLE Act aims to curb undue benefits for members of Congress by restricting lobbying activities, travel accommodations, stock ownership, and outside board service, while also eliminating automatic pay adjustments.
Angie Craig
Representative
MN-2
The HUMBLE Act aims to reform congressional practices by prohibiting former members of Congress from lobbying, restricting the use of government funds for premium airline accommodations, and eliminating certain benefits for former House members. It also prohibits House members from owning individual stocks and serving on for-profit boards, and eliminates automatic pay adjustments for members of Congress. These changes intend to promote ethical governance and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
HUMBLE Act Proposes Lifetime Lobbying Ban, Coach-Only Travel, and Stock Restrictions for Congress
This proposed legislation, known as the Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination Act (HUMBLE Act), sets out to tighten ethics rules and trim perks for members and former members of Congress. It introduces a lifetime ban preventing former members and elected officers from lobbying Congress, restricts taxpayer-funded air travel to coach class starting in Fiscal Year 2026, eliminates several benefits for former House members, prohibits House members from owning individual stocks by January 3, 2027, ends automatic annual pay raises, and bars House members from serving on corporate boards.
Closing the Revolving Door
Section 2 directly addresses the common practice of former lawmakers leveraging their connections by becoming lobbyists. It establishes a lifetime prohibition preventing former Senators, Representatives, and elected congressional officers from lobbying any current member, officer, or employee of Congress on behalf of someone else. The goal is to curb the potential for undue influence stemming from these established relationships.
Grounding Travel and Trimming Perks
The bill aims to align congressional travel with everyday standards. Section 3 mandates that, beginning in FY2026, government funds can only cover coach-class airline tickets for members of Congress and legislative branch employees on official business – defined as the basic economy or tourist fare. Limited exceptions based on existing federal travel regulations are permitted. Additionally, Section 4 targets post-service privileges specifically for former members of the House, cutting off access to perks like the House gym, Members' Dining Room, designated parking, and free access to certain legislative materials. While the Speaker and Minority Leader can jointly grant waivers for these restrictions, they must publish the justification in the Congressional Record within 24 hours, adding a layer of transparency.
Focusing Finances and Future Raises
Several provisions focus on the financial activities and compensation of representatives. Section 5 requires members of the House of Representatives to divest from owning common stock in individual corporations by noon on January 3, 2027. Complementing this, Section 7 amends House rules to prohibit its members from serving on the board of directors for any for-profit entity. Furthermore, Section 6 eliminates the mechanism for automatic annual pay adjustments for all members of Congress, meaning any future congressional pay raises would require a specific vote rather than occurring passively based on economic indicators. This change takes effect after the next general federal election following the bill's enactment.