Congress One

S. 4343 proposes a change to federal law regarding the retirement benefits of Members of Congress. Specifically, it would disqualify any Member of Congress convicted of certain felony sexual abuse offenses from receiving federal retirement benefits earned through their service as a legislator. This bill applies exclusively to Members of Congress who are convicted of the specified crimes. If passed, these individuals would lose access to the pension benefits typically associated with their time in office. The bill does not apply to federal employees outside of Congress, nor does it change retirement benefits for Members convicted of crimes unrelated to the specific sexual abuse offenses mentioned in the text. It also does not alter the criminal penalties or prison sentences associated with those convictions.

H.J.Res. 135 is a proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to change how the President uses the pardon power. Because the full text of the resolution has not yet been released, the specific details regarding how these limits would function are currently unavailable. In general, a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states. This process is distinct from passing a standard law, as it alters the foundational rules of the government. This bill does not change current laws or presidential powers today. It is a formal proposal to begin the long process of amending the Constitution.