Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act or the CLEAN Congress Act This bill (1) requires bills, orders, resolutions, or votes submitted by Congress to the President to include only one subject that is clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title; and (2) makes ineffective any provision of law that excludes its application to a Member of Congress or to an employee in a Member's office.
If enacted, HB 155 would likely reform the way Congress drafts and presents legislation. By enforcing a single subject rule, the bill aims to ensure that legislators have a more focused approach when addressing issues, potentially leading to a more deliberate and transparent legislative process. This legislative change could decrease instances of political maneuvering that often accompany multi-subject bills, thereby giving citizens a clearer understanding of what specific proposals entail and how they may impact them directly.
House Bill 155, also known as the Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act or the CLEAN Congress Act, aims to prohibit Congress from presenting bills that encompass multiple subjects. The bill mandates that each bill, order, resolution, or vote submitted to the President must focus solely on one specific subject, which should be clearly articulated in the title of the measure. This mechanism is expected to enhance legislative clarity and integrity, reducing the potential for legislative 'Christmas tree' bills that bundle unrelated measures together, thus complicating the legislative process.
The bill also addresses the issue of privileges for members of Congress by stating that any laws containing exceptions for congressional members’ applications will be deemed ineffective. This aspect of HB 155 is particularly contentious, as it challenges longstanding norms regarding the legal applications that Congress members might enjoy, and it seeks to remove any preferential treatment in legislative practices. Advocates argue that this could enhance accountability and public trust in Congress, while opponents may express concerns about whether such measures could hinder the operational effectiveness of congressional duties.