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HR 753 117th Congress House Congress Appropriations Budget process Congressional operations and organization Congressional oversight District of Columbia Federal officials Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Government ethics and transparency, public corruption House of Representatives Intergovernmental relations Legislative rules and procedure Members of Congress Public participation and lobbying Senate State and local government operations

Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act

Introduced: February 3, 2021 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Feb 3, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, Rules, Oversight and Reform, and 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.
Feb 3, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act

This bill establishes requirements for Members of Congress related to consideration of appropriations bills, lobbying activities, and retirement benefits.

Specifically, the bill prohibits (1) the House of Representatives from adjourning for more than three calendar days in August until it has approved annual appropriations bills for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of that year, and (2) Congress from adjourning for more than three calendar days between October 1 and the end of the congressional session until the annual appropriations bills are presented to the President.

Neither chamber may recess or stand adjourned longer than 24 hours during any calendar year until Congress has agreed to a budget resolution for the fiscal year beginning on October 1 of such year that projects a balanced budget by the last fiscal year covered by the resolution.

The bill establishes a five-year ban on (1) individuals appointed to executive schedule positions from engaging in lobbying activities in the executive branch, and (2) lobbying activities by Members of Congress.

The Office of Government Ethics may waive lobbying restrictions for certain employees if it determines that the restrictions would create an undue hardship in obtaining qualified personnel for agency positions and granting such waiver would not create the potential for undue influence or unfair advantage.

The bill excludes future Members of Congress from the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and requires Members currently enrolled in FERS to opt in to continue their enrollment.

What's happening now March 22, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 751 Related bill Cleaning Up Washington’s Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Feb 3, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 753: Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-753/
MLA
"H.R. 753: Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-753/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 753, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-753/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 753: Serve the People, Not the Swamp Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-753/)
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