CLEAN Act
Ethics: Making the Office of Congressional Ethics Permanent
The CLEAN Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It has been sent to the House Administration and Rules committees for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
While ethics reform is popular with the public, members of Congress are often slow to pass laws that make oversight of their own actions permanent and harder to change.
Key Points
- This bill makes the Office of Congressional Ethics a permanent part of federal law. Right now, this office is created by a House rule that must be renewed every two years. Making it permanent ensures the office stays active even if political leadership changes.
- The office is an independent group that looks into claims of misconduct by members of the House of Representatives. By making it permanent, the bill aims to keep the ethics process stable and less likely to be shut down for political reasons.
- New rules would limit board members to serving four terms of two years each. It also requires vacancies on the board to be filled within 60 days so the office can keep doing its work without long delays.
- The bill protects the rights of people being investigated by making sure they are told they have a right to a lawyer. It also states that using a lawyer cannot be held against them during the investigation.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CLEAN Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(1)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.