WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the Stop Congressional Self-Enrichment Resolution with Reps. Jared Golden (ME-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to bar Members of Congress from using taxpayer-funded earmarks to increase their own personal net worth.
Under current Rule XXIII, clause 17 of the House Rules, Members requesting Community Project Funding (CPF), or earmarks, must certify that they and their spouses have no financial conflicts of interest in the request. However, current rules do not explicitly account for indirect financial interests, including whether an earmark could increase the value of a business asset owned by a Member or their family because of its proximity to the CPF project.
Congresswoman Kim’s resolution closes this loophole by requiring Members of Congress to certify that neither they, their spouse, their immediate family members, nor any entity in which they hold a material financial interest would directly or indirectly benefit financially from an earmark.
“When politicians are busy lining their own pockets, how can they ever understand or focus on the pocketbook issues Americans face every single day? Californians are struggling to afford groceries, gas, healthcare, and housing while paying some of the highest taxes in the nation. The least they deserve is representation focused on making their lives better,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I’m proud to lead this commonsense resolution with Congressmen Jared Golden and Brian Fitzpatrick to hold Members of Congress to a stronger standard when bringing federal dollars back home. Members of Congress should be concerned with building a better future for Americans, not filling their own coffers.”
“Americans deserve certainty that when a member of Congress secures funding for their district, it’s for the good of their constituents — not themselves, their families or any entity in which they have a financial interest,” said Rep. Jared Golden. “This resolution will strengthen the anti-corruption guardrails around Community Project Funds to ensure federal dollars are used responsibly. I’m proud to co-sponsor this commonsense change to preserve the integrity of the House.”
“Public service is a public trust, and there can be no ambiguity about whose interests we are here to serve. No Member of Congress should be able to use the power of public office to create a financial benefit for themselves, their family, or an entity in which they have a financial stake. I have spent years working across the aisle to strengthen accountability and eliminate conflicts of interest in Congress, and the principle here is just as clear: public decisions must be made in the public interest. Clear rules, meaningful transparency, and real accountability are essential to protecting the integrity of this institution and the trust of the people we serve,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
This resolution builds on Rep. Kim’s work to crack down on corruption and restore accountability in Congress, including:
- The Stop Insider Trading Act to bar Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from buying individual stocks;
- The Restore Trust in Congress Act to ban Members and their families from owning or trading individual stocks and other securities;
- The TRUST in Congress Act to require Members and their families to put stocks and other covered investments in a blind trust;
- The Congressional Pension Accountability Act to strip taxpayer-funded pensions from Members expelled or who resign while facing serious ethics violations;
- The End Government Pension for Sexual Abusers Act to strip taxpayer-funded pensions from Members convicted of sexual abuse; and
- H.J.Res. 12 to impose term limits on Members of Congress.
Read the full resolution text HERE.
