H.R. 6062 · 117th Congress
Hatch Act Accountability Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 117th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
MaloneySponsor2 cosponsors · 2 D
2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill expands the jurisdiction of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate and enforce Hatch Act violations. The Hatch Act prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government from engaging in some forms of political activity (e.g., advocating for or against a partisan political party while on duty).
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Nov 19, 2021
Hatch Act Accountability Act
This bill expands the jurisdiction of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate and enforce Hatch Act violations. The Hatch Act prohibits civil service employees in the executive branch of the federal government from engaging in some forms of political activity (e.g., advocating for or against a partisan political party while on duty). The purpose of the act is to maintain a federal workforce free from partisan political influence or coercion.
Specifically, the bill allows OSC to investigate Hatch Act violations involving White House political appointees. If OSC determines that a White House political appointee has violated the Hatch Act, the bill allows OSC to refer a complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board for imposition of a civil penalty of up to $50,000.
The bill also allows OSC to investigate Hatch Act violations regardless of whether a complaint has been filed.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Hatch Act Accountability Act
Latest action (Nov 19, 2021): Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics · Origin: House · Introduced: Nov 19, 2021
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.