To amend chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit pay of annuity or retired pay to a Member of Congress convicted of a criminal offense committed during congressional service, and for other purposes.

HR 8427 (Session 119) — Summary

Purpose and intent
- The bill amends chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit the payment of annuity or retired pay to a Member of Congress who is convicted of a criminal offense committed during congressional service.
- In short, it seeks to withhold federal retirement benefits for a sitting or former Member of Congress when the crime occurs while serving in Congress.

Key provisions (as described by the bill’s title and scope)
- Prohibition on benefits: If a Member of Congress is convicted of a criminal offense that was committed during congressional service, their annuity and/or retired pay would be prohibited or potentially terminated. The exact mechanics (e.g., whether benefits are suspended pending appeal, or permanently forfeited upon conviction) would be defined in the text of the amended statute.
- Scope of coverage: Applies to Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives) and their retirement/annuity programs covered under chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code.
- Related authorities: The bill targets the Federal retirement system provisions that govern annuities for federal employees, applying them to Members of Congress in the context of criminal convictions tied to congressional service.

Who would be affected
- Primary beneficiaries affected: Members of Congress (current and former) who would otherwise be entitled to annuity or retired pay under the applicable federal retirement provisions.
- Potential indirect beneficiaries: Taxpayers and accountability advocates who support withholding benefits for misconduct connected to public service.

Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduction and referral: Introduced in the House and referred on 2026-04-21 to the Committee on House Administration and to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for consideration of provisions within each committee’s jurisdiction.
- Next steps: Committees would review provisions, hold hearings if applicable, and produce committee reports. If advanced, the bill would proceed through the House rules and floor consideration, and potentially to the Senate or be subject to reconciliation or amendments as part of the legislative process.
- Sponsors and supporters: Primary sponsor not listed; co-sponsors include Suhas Subramanyam, Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, Anna Luna, and Emily Randall, indicating bipartisan or cross-aisle support among some members.

Notes and considerations
- The bill’s effectiveness depends on the exact statutory language, including definitions of “offense,” “convicted,” “during congressional service,” and the procedural treatment of benefits during and after conviction.
- Implementation would require coordination with existing retirement systems and beneficiary determinations for Members of Congress.
- As with any measure affecting civil/service benefits, there may be questions about due process, interpretation of “during congressional service,” and the handling of appeals or expungement.

This summary captures the bill’s core aim to align retirement benefits with conduct during service, the committees involved, and the basic governance steps anticipated in the legislative process. For exact statutory language and detailed impact analyses, the bill’s text and accompanying committee reports would be the definitive sources.