A Republican bill with 11 Republican cosponsors · See all 11 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Swalwell Act," seeks to stop the use of taxpayer money for settlements regarding workplace misconduct by Members of Congress or senior staff. It shifts the financial responsibility for these settlements directly onto the individuals involved, prohibiting reimbursement via federal or campaign funds. The Act requires the creation of a public database to track these settlements and mandates the retroactive disclosure of past settlements paid with public funds since 1995. Additionally, it requires that criminal allegations be referred to the Department of Justice. Finally, it establishes civil penalties and enforcement mechanisms for those who violate these rules.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates a public database of misconduct settlements and the retroactive disclosure of past settlements.
- Scored +5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill prohibits using taxpayer funds for settlements related to workplace misconduct by Members of Congress or senior staff.
- Scored +4
Would women be better off under this?
The bill increases accountability for sexual harassment and workplace misconduct while protecting victim privacy.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Accountability: Members of Congress and senior staff who are found liable for or enter settlements regarding workplace misconduct must pay the full amount personally, ensuring they are held responsible for their actions (Section 3(a)).
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Increased Transparency: The Act requires the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate to maintain a public, searchable database containing the names of those involved, the amounts paid, and the nature of the claims (Section 4(a)).
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Public Awareness of Past Misconduct: All settlements and awards paid with public funds since January 1, 1995, must be published within 180 days of the Act's enactment (Section 5(a)).
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Victim Protection: The law explicitly prohibits the disclosure of personally identifiable information of victims or complainants in the public database (Section 4(b)) and ensures that the identity of a victim is not required to be disclosed without express written consent (Section 9(2)).
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Criminal Accountability: Any allegations of conduct that may violate Federal criminal law must be promptly referred to the Department of Justice (Section 6(a)).
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Legal Safeguards for Victims: The Act ensures that nothing in the legislation will limit the rights of victims to pursue claims or receive compensation (Section 9(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burdens on Officials: Members of Congress and senior staff face significant personal financial responsibility for settlements and may be subject to civil penalties of at least 200 percent of any amount improperly paid (Section 3(a) and Section 7(a)(1)).
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Disciplinary Risk: Violating the provisions of this Act can lead to a referral to the appropriate Ethics Committee for further disciplinary action (Section 7(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates a public database of misconduct settlements and the retroactive disclosure of past settlements.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill increases accountability for sexual harassment and workplace misconduct while protecting victim privacy. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill strengthens protections against workplace misconduct and retaliation in federal leadership environments.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill prohibits using taxpayer funds for settlements related to workplace misconduct by Members of Congress or senior staff.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill increases accountability for workplace discrimination claims within Congress.
- 5/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/20/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 4/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Mark AmodeiRepublican · Nevada
Lauren BoebertRepublican · Colorado
Andy BiggsRepublican · Arizona
Tim BurchettRepublican · Tennessee
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia
Randy FineRepublican · Florida
Clay FullerRepublican · Georgia
John JoyceRepublican · Pennsylvania
Anna Paulina LunaRepublican · Florida
Thomas TiffanyRepublican · Wisconsin
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican · Wisconsin