Bill Summary
The "Legislative Accountability Act" is a proposed bill aimed at enhancing transparency in the legislative process of the U.S. Congress. It establishes requirements for committee chairs in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to report specific information regarding amendments made to bills and joint resolutions.
Key provisions include:
1. **Reporting Amendments**: Committee chairs must submit the names of any Members of Congress who proposed amendments that were adopted by their committees within three legislative days of reporting a bill or resolution.
2. **Special Reporting for Certain Committees**: For bills reported by specific committees, such as Appropriations or Finance, chairs must also submit names of Members responsible for any provisions included in the reported legislation.
3. **Inclusion in Legislative Documents**: The names reported must be included as footnotes in any version of the bill or resolution (reported, engrossed, enrolled, or enacted) to clarify which Members contributed to specific amendments or provisions.
4. **Rulemaking Authority**: The Act asserts that these reporting requirements are enacted under the rulemaking powers of each House of Congress, allowing them to be modified as necessary by either House.
Overall, the Act aims to improve accountability and transparency by ensuring that contributions to legislation are clearly documented and attributed to the respective Members of Congress.
Possible Impacts
The "Legislative Accountability Act" could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Increased Transparency in Legislative Processes**: By requiring the chairs of committees to submit the names of Members of Congress who contributed amendments to bills, this legislation enhances transparency. Citizens can more easily track who is responsible for specific provisions in legislation, fostering greater accountability and informed public discourse around the actions and influence of their elected representatives.
2. **Empowerment of Constituents**: With clearer documentation of which Members of Congress are associated with specific amendments, constituents can better engage with their representatives. This knowledge allows voters to hold their elected officials accountable for their positions and actions on issues that matter to them, potentially influencing future elections and policy decisions.
3. **Impact on Legislative Strategy**: The requirement to disclose the names of lawmakers responsible for amendments may affect how Members of Congress approach the legislative process. They may be more cautious in proposing amendments or may opt to collaborate more with colleagues to achieve bipartisan support, knowing that their contributions will be publicly documented. This could lead to more strategic decision-making in crafting legislation, potentially affecting the types of bills that are introduced and passed.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3507 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3507
To require the chairs of committees of the House of Representatives and
the Senate to submit certain information to the Clerk of the House of
Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate with respect to reported
bills and joint resolutions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2025
Mr. Burchett (for himself and Mr. Moskowitz) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition to
the Committee on House Administration, 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 require the chairs of committees of the House of Representatives and
the Senate to submit certain information to the Clerk of the House of
Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate with respect to reported
bills and joint resolutions, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legislative Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO INCLUSION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
FOR BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS.
(a) Requirements With Respect to Certain Amendments.--
(1) In general.--With respect to a bill or joint resolution
reported by a committee of the House of Representatives or the
Senate, the chair of such committee shall submit to the Clerk
of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate
(as the case may be), not later than 3 legislative days after
the date that the bill or resolution is reported by the
committee, the name of any Member of Congress who submitted an
amendment to the bill or resolution which was adopted by the
committee.
(2) Amendments adopted with respect to matters that pass
either house.--With respect to a bill or joint resolution
passed by the House of Representatives or the Senate, the chair
of the Committee on Rules of the House or the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the Senate shall submit to the
Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the
Senate (as the case may be), not later than 3 legislative days
after the date that the bill or resolution is passed by such
House, the name of any Member of Congress who submitted an
amendment to the bill or resolution which was adopted by such
House.
(b) Special Rule With Respect to Matters Reported by Certain
Committees.--With respect to a bill or joint resolution reported by the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives or the
Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House, or the Committee
on Finance of the Senate, the chair of such committee shall submit to
the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the
Senate (as the case may be), not later than 3 legislative days after
the date that the bill or resolution is reported by the committee, the
name of each Member of Congress who is responsible for the inclusion of
a provision in the bill or resolution as reported by the committee.
(c) Inclusion of Certain Information in Bills or Resolutions.--The
Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate (as
the case may be), and the Director of the Government Publishing Office
shall ensure that any name submitted under subsection (a) or (b) with
respect to a bill or resolution is included in any reported, engrossed,
enrolled or enacted version of the bill or resolution in the form of a
footnote that indicates which adopted amendment or provision in the
bill or resolution any such Member submitted for or is otherwise
responsible for its inclusion in such version of the bill or
resolution, as applicable.
(d) Member of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term ``Member
of Congress'' means a Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
(e) Exercise of Rulemaking Powers.--The provisions of this section
are enacted by the Congress--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, respectively, and as such they
shall be considered as part of the rules of each House,
respectively, or of that House to which they specifically
apply, and such rules shall supersede other rules only to the
extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change such rules (so far as relating to such
House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent
as in the case of any other rule of such House.
<all>