Subramanyam and Luna Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reform Congressional Pensions

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), alongside Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Emily Randall (D-WA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA), introduced the bipartisan Congressional Pension Integrity Act. This legislation would prohibit members of Congress who commit sex crimes, crimes of violence, corruption and fraud, and engage in sexual relations with their staff, from receiving their taxpayer funded pensions.

"Members of Congress should be held to a high standard and serve as an example to their constituents, not embarrass the institution with criminal behavior and sex crimes. Taxpayers should not have to pay pensions to Members who commit heinous crimes while serving in office, but right now we do. This bill changes that and provides real accountability," said Rep. Subramanyam.

"No Member of Congress who is convicted of sexual assault should continue to benefit from taxpayer-funded pensions. Regardless of party, this is basic accountability and something we should all agree on, which is why I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation alongside my colleague from across the aisle Rep. Suhas Subramanyam," said Rep. Luna.

Currently, members of Congress who commit heinous crimes may still be able to keep their pensions. And there is insufficient accountability for members who are convicted of a crime or who sexually assault or harass their staff members. The Congressional Pension Integrity Act ensures that members of Congress who are convicted of a crime or who break House rules by engaging in sexual conduct with, sexually assaulting or harassing staff are stripped of their pension. Those crimes include:

• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual abuse of a minor
• Sex trafficking
• Crimes of violence
• Bribery and conflict of interest crimes
• Election fraud/tampering
• Embezzlement and theft
• Mail fraud
• Obstruction of justice
• Campaign finance violations
• Members who engage in sexual conduct with their staff

"Americans are sick of being let down by the people elected to represent them," said Rep. Randall. "We already strip taxpayer funded pensions from Members convicted of corruption, bribery, and treason - sexual assault and harassment must be taken just as seriously."

"With accusations of ethical and legal misconduct swirling around several current and former members of Congress, Americans are rightly asking why their taxpayer dollars are going to officials who violated their constituents' trust," said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). "When members of Congress leave office after committing violent criminal offenses, they should not be able to continue collecting American taxpayer dollars by drawing their pensions. CREW is proud to support Rep. Subramanyam and Rep. Luna's Congressional Pension Integrity Act of 2026 and encourage Congress to pass it expeditiously."

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam is a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Ethics Committee.