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H.R. 10283House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Congressional Pension Accountability Act

Sponsored by Zachary NunnRep. Zachary Nunn (R-IA)
Introduced September 3, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 4, 2026 at 8:28 AM UTC

The Congressional Pension Accountability Act would strip members of Congress of any pension credit earned from their time in office if they are expelled or resign after an ethics investigation finds substantial evidence of misconduct. The loss of credit means the member’s service would not count toward eligibility for, or the amount of, an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It also requires the return of any government‑paid contributions tied to that service. The rule applies to current and future cases involving misconduct after the law takes effect.

Key Provisions

  • If a member is expelled from Congress, all of their prior congressional service is treated as non‑creditable for CSRS and FERS pension calculations.
  • If a member resigns after an ethics subcommittee adopts a majority‑vote Statement of Alleged Violation indicating substantial reason to believe they violated the Code of Official Conduct or other standards, their prior service is also made non‑creditable for pension eligibility.
  • Any portion of the member’s lump‑sum credit that came from the now‑non‑creditable service must be refunded to the individual (or their estate if deceased).
  • Government contributions to the member’s Thrift Savings Plan and any earnings on those contributions are forfeited when service is deemed non‑creditable under FERS.
  • Previously paid pension amounts are not required to be repaid, but future payments based on the forfeited service are eliminated.
  • Presidential pardons or sentence commutations do not restore the forfeited pension benefits.
  • The Office of Personnel Management must issue regulations to implement these forfeiture rules, and ethics committees must preserve all related investigative records.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Committee on House Administration

September 3, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 3, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Committee on House Administration

September 3, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 3, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10283

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 3, 2026

Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Pappas, Mrs. Kim, and Ms. Craig) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide that, if an individual is expelled from Congress or resigns from Congress in certain cases involving misconduct, any Member service previously rendered by that individual shall be noncreditable for purposes of determining eligibility for an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Congressional Pension Accountability Act.

2.

Forfeiture of annuity after expulsion from Congress or finding of serious misconduct

(a)

CSRS

(1)

In general

Subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8333 the following:

8333a.

Expulsion or resignation from Congress

(a)

Noncreditability of member service

(1)

Expulsion

If an individual is expelled from Congress, all Member service previously performed by such individual shall be noncreditable for purposes of determining eligibility for an annuity which would otherwise be payable under this subchapter based on the service of such individual.

(2)

Resignation

If an individual resigns from Congress and prior to such resignation an investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate adopts, by a majority vote of its members, a Statement of Alleged Violation upon a determination that there is substantial reason to believe that a violation of the Code of Official Conduct, or of a law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the performance of official duties or the discharge of official responsibilities by a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives has occurred with respect to the individual, all Member service previously performed by such individual shall be noncreditable for purposes of determining eligibility for an annuity which would otherwise be payable under this subchapter based on the service of such individual.

(b)

Refund of contributions and deposits

If an individual’s Member service becomes noncreditable by operation of subsection (a), that portion of such individual’s lump-sum credit which is attributable to such Member service (less any amount previously refunded or paid as annuity benefits) shall, on proper application, be payable to such individual or, if deceased, to the appropriate person determined under section 8342.

(c)

Amounts properly paid not affected

An individual whose Member service is made noncreditable by reason of subsection (a) is not thereafter required to repay any part of an annuity under this subchapter otherwise properly paid to such individual before the date of the expulsion, if any.

(d)

Records

The Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, as the case may be, shall preserve all documents and investigative materials related to any violations or alleged violations described in subsection (a)(2).

(e)

Pardon

The issuance of a pardon or the commutation of any criminal sentence by the President with respect to an individual whose annuity was forfeited under this section shall not restore or otherwise provide such annuity to such individual.

(f)

Regulations

The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8333 the following:

8333a. Expulsion or resignation from Congress.

.

(b)

FERS

(1)

In general

Chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8410 the following:

8410a.

Expulsion or resignation from Congress

(a)

Noncreditability of member service

(1)

Expulsion

If an individual is expelled from Congress, all Member service previously performed by such individual shall be noncreditable for purposes of determining eligibility for or the amount of any annuity which might otherwise be payable out of the Fund based on the service of such individual under this chapter.

(2)

Resignation

If an individual resigns from Congress and prior to such resignation an investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate adopts, by a majority vote of its members, a Statement of Alleged Violation upon a determination that there is substantial reason to believe that a violation of the Code of Official Conduct, or of a law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the performance of official duties or the discharge of official responsibilities by a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives has occurred with respect to the individual, all Member service previously performed by such individual shall be noncreditable for purposes of determining eligibility for an annuity which would otherwise be payable under this subchapter based on the service of such individual.

(b)

Refund of contributions and deposits

If an individual’s Member service becomes noncreditable by reason of subsection (a), that portion of such individual’s lump-sum credit which is attributable to such Member service (less any amount previously refunded or paid as annuity benefits) shall, on proper application, be payable to such individual or, if deceased, to the appropriate person determined under section 8424.

(c)

Amounts properly paid not affected

An individual whose Member service is made noncreditable by reason of subsection (a) is not thereafter required to repay any part of an annuity under this chapter otherwise properly paid to such individual before the date of the expulsion, if any.

(d)

Forfeiture of government contributions to thrift savings plan

If an individual’s Member service becomes noncreditable by reason of subsection (a), all contributions made by the Government for the benefit of that individual under section 8432(c) while that individual was performing Member service, and all earnings attributable to such contributions, shall be forfeited.

(e)

Records

The Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, as the case may be, shall preserve all documents and investigative materials related to any violations or alleged violations described in subsection (a)(2).

(f)

Pardon

The issuance of a pardon or the commutation of any criminal sentence by the President with respect to an individual whose annuity was forfeited under this section shall not restore or otherwise provide such annuity to such individual.

(g)

Regulations

The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including provisions for the reduction or elimination of any payment under section 8421 and any other similar payment under this chapter supplemental to any annuity or survivor annuity reduced or eliminated under subsection (a).

(h)

Definition

For the purpose of this section, the term Member service means, in the case of an individual subject to this chapter, service performed by such individual as a Member (as defined by section 8331 or 8401), including the period from the date of the beginning of the term for which elected or appointed to the date on which he takes office as such a Member.

.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8410 the following:

8410a. Expulsion or resignation from Congress.

.

3.

Conforming amendments

Sections 8433(a) and 8437(d) of title 5, United States Code, are amended by inserting or 8410a(d) after 8432(g).

4.

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to any expulsion or any Statement of Alleged Violation adopted by the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate which is based, in whole or in part, on any act committed or conduct engaged in after the date of the enactment of this Act.