Schneider Introduces Bills to Restore Integrity in Government, Root Out Government Corruption, and Strengthen Democracy

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced a series of bills to promote good government by increasing government transparency, requiring an ethics pledge for senior Executive Branch appointees, curbing corrupt lobbying practices, and other measures to ensure integrity within government.

"Serving in Congress is a great honor, and the American people expect their representatives and their government to be held to a higher standard," said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10). "These common-sense reforms will help our democracy function more effectively. By increasing transparency surrounding political donations and Members' finances, preventing former Members of Congress from abusing their Congressional privileges, and creating more of a firewall between lobbying organizations and the federal government, we will raise the ethical standards for our government and more effectively serve the American people."

TheReal-Time Transparency Act would require disclosure within 48 hours of donations to candidates and committees that total $1,000 or more. Under current law, most donations are only disclosed to the public via quarterly filings with the Federal Election Commission.

The Prohibiting Perks and Privileges Actwould enhance the accountability of Members of Congress by:

• Preventing former members of Congress who become lobbyists from abusing their congressional privileges, such as access to the House and Senate floors, legislative resources, House and Senate document rooms and Member dining rooms
• Require members' annual financial disclosure statements be posted publicly on their websites
• Prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to pay for spouses that accompany Members on official travel
• Prohibit Members from using airline miles accrued as a result of their service for personal use and instead to use the miles for official travel or donate them

The Ethics in Public Service Actwould enact an ethics pledges for senior Executive Branch officials and create a two-year "cooling-off" period before former lobbyists can join an executive agency that they previously lobbied. This bill would also reverse changes during the Trump Administration that allowed former appointees to communicate with the agency where they once worked.