No Pensions for Congressional Predators Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
- Committees
- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Apr 17, 2026
Bottom line
This bill aims to strip federal retirement benefits from Members of Congress convicted of serious sexual abuse or exploitation felonies committed after its enactment.
What it actually does
This bill amends title 5, United States Code, to prevent Members of Congress from receiving federal retirement benefits based on their congressional service if they are convicted of certain felony sexual abuse offenses. It specifically targets offenses related to sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children, obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and trafficking of children and other persons. The forfeiture applies to acts or omissions occurring after the bill's date of enactment.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill ensures accountability for Members of Congress who commit heinous sexual abuse crimes, preventing them from profiting from public service while having violated public trust in the most egregious ways. They contend it sends a strong message that such conduct will not be tolerated and reinforces ethical standards for elected officials.
Opponents contend
While direct opposition to the core principle of stripping benefits for such crimes is rare, potential critics might argue that existing laws already provide sufficient penalties, making this bill largely symbolic. Some might also contend that the focus should be on prevention and prosecution rather than post-conviction financial penalties, or that the scope of offenses could be debated.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it highly accessible for a reader to understand its provisions quickly.
Section 2(a)
Forfeiture of Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Annuity for Felony Sexual Abuse
This provision modifies existing law to state that a Member of Congress convicted of specific felony sexual abuse offenses will not be eligible for retirement benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) based on their congressional service. The specified offenses include sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and human trafficking. This forfeiture applies if the offense is committed after the bill's enactment date, overriding previous requirements that might have allowed for benefits under certain conditions.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue this closes a loophole that might allow Members convicted of severe sexual crimes to retain taxpayer-funded retirement benefits, ensuring justice and upholding the integrity of public office.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against this provision's core intent, as denying retirement benefits for such egregious crimes is widely supported. Any opposition would likely focus on technicalities or broader legal principles rather than the specific aim.
Tradeoffs
The bill balances the principle of due process and existing retirement entitlements against the public demand for accountability and severe penalties for elected officials who commit serious crimes.
Section 2(b)
Forfeiture of Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Annuity for Felony Sexual Abuse
Similar to the CSRS amendment, this provision modifies the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) to ensure that Members of Congress convicted of the same specified felony sexual abuse offenses will also forfeit their retirement benefits based on their congressional service. This applies to offenses committed after the bill's enactment, aligning FERS rules with the changes made to CSRS.
Section 2(c)
Application of Amendments
This section clarifies that the amendments made by the bill, which strip retirement benefits from Members of Congress convicted of certain sexual abuse felonies, will only apply to acts or omissions that occur after the date the bill is enacted into law. This prevents retroactive application of the new forfeiture rules.