STOP the SWAMP Act

Refreshed 4 h ago

Introduced 2026-07-30Topic: governance ethics · labor

Summary

AI-generated summary, report an error

This bill changes federal law on witnesses called before Congress. A witness who appears but refuses to answer a relevant question would face a misdemeanor charge with a fine of $100 to $1,000 and 1 to 12 months in jail, and would be barred from federal jobs. A witness finally convicted of perjury or making false statements would also be barred from federal jobs, and current federal employees in either case would be removed from the civil service, with debarment subject to court review. The bill also lets committee chairs or ranking members certify contempt cases and sets fast-track procedures for Congress to cut salary funds for a federal employee witness.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Action history

Date	Chamber	Action	Status effect
2026-07-30	House	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rules, 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.	refer
2026-07-30	House	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rules, 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.	refer
2026-07-30	House	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rules, 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.	refer
2026-07-30		Introduced in House	introduce
2026-07-30		Introduced in House	introduce

Summary

Sponsors

Action history