The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader, U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Majority Leaders Schumer and Hoyer,
On behalf of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), we respectfully ask you to schedule a floor vote on the No Congressionally Obligated Recurring Revenue Used as Pensions To Incarcerated Officials Now (No CORRUPTION) Act. We are confident this legislation would pass with overwhelming bipartisan support because it helps restore trust in our democracy by holding former members of Congress accountable for their crimes. Passage of S.693/H.R.3327 is the right thing to do and we urge its swift consideration.
As you may be aware, the No CORRUPTION Act is a bipartisan bill that closes a loophole in federal law that permits former members of Congress convicted of a crime to still collect a taxpayer-funded pension. Currently under federal law, members of Congress who are convicted of a crime are still entitled to collect a
taxpayer-funded pension up until their day of sentencing. This means that even after a lawful conviction for
corruption, members can receive their taxpayer-funded pensions for years, even while in prison, by filing one appeal after another. It is unacceptable that those who betray the public trust by furthering their own interests are rewarded with taxpayer dollars that would be better spent elsewhere.
Thankfully, Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Rick Scott, (R-FL) and Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), James Comer (R-KY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Tom Rice (R-SC), and Cindy Axne (D-IA) have introduced their bill to close this loophole. We were pleased to see their bill approved unanimously out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on March 17, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on May 25. Yet, despite committee approval months ago, it has not been brought to a full vote in either chamber. In today’s polarized political environment, it is uncommon for a bi-cameral, bipartisan bill to pass out of committee by voice vote, and such achievements should be celebrated, not delayed.
While we recognize Congress has a busy calendar over the next several months, we urge consideration of the No CORRUPTION Act that would easily pass both the House and Senate in short order. Taxpayers, and indeed all Americans deserve passage of S.693/H.R.3327, and we hope you feel similarly.
Sincerely,
National Taxpayers Union
Project On Government Oversight