(Washington, D.C.) Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn and three other bipartisan House members have introduced the Congressional Pension Accountability Act.
The legislation would end taxpayer-funded pension benefits for members of Congress who are expelled or resign after the House or Senate Ethics Committee determines there is substantial reason to believe they committed a serious ethics violation.
The bill comes amid several congressional resignations and ethics investigations. Under current law, a member generally forfeits their congressional pension only after being convicted of certain crimes, a process that can take years or may never happen.
The legislation would apply to federal retirement systems available to members of Congress, including the Civil Service Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan.
