H.R. 9822 – SERVE Act | Legislate.dev

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Updated July 25, 2026 at 4:42 AM UTC

The SERVE Act (Safeguarding Ethics and Restoring Voter Expectations Act) changes federal law to keep former members of Congress out of lobbying and federal contracting for a longer period. It lengthens the existing lobbying restriction to ten years for all former Senators and House members, and adds a new ten‑year ban on accepting paid federal contracts after leaving office. The bill applies to anyone who leaves Congress on or after the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

Extends the post‑service lobbying ban for former Senators from 2 years to 10 years.
Extends the post‑service lobbying ban for former House members, officers, and employees from 1 year to 10 years.
Prohibits any former Member of Congress (Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner) from receiving compensation as a federal contractor for ten years after leaving office.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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

July 21, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 21, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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

July 21, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 21, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9822

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 21, 2026

Mr. Wied introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members of Congress from lobbying Members, officers, or employees of Congress, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding Ethics and Restoring Voter Expectations Act or the SERVE Act.

2.

Prohibition against lobbying of Congress by former Members

(a)

Senators

Section 207(e)(1)(A) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking within 2 years and inserting within 10 years .

(b)

Members and Officers of the House of Representatives

Section 207(e)(1)(B)(i) of such title is amended by striking within 1 year and inserting within 10 years.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to individuals who leave office on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

3.

Prohibition against serving as Federal contractors by former Members

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Member of Congress may not accept compensation as a Federal contractor for the 10-year period that begins on the date that the Member leaves office.

(b)

Definitions

In this section—

(1)

the term Federal contractor has the meaning given that term under section 115.1 of title 11, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto; and

(2)

the term Member of Congress means any Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

(c)

Effective date

This section shall apply with respect to Members of Congress who leave office on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.