Republican Rep.Chip Roy of Texas has fielded a proposal to cut off pay and power from House and Senate lawmakers once they've served 12 years in their respective legislative chamber."A Member of Congress (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) who has served 12 or more cumulative years in the House of Representatives or in the Senate, as the case may be, may not, on and after the date that the Member reaches 12 years of service in the Member’s respective House of Congress, be eligible for any covered benefit described in subsection (b)," the text states.Under the proposal, such long-serving lawmakers would no longer be eligible for pay and would no longer be eligible to serve in House and Senate leadership posts or as the chair or ranking member of standing or select committees.FIRST ON FOX: SPLC'S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS UNDER THREAT AFTER FIERY CAPITOL HILL HEARINGRep.
Chip Roy, R-Texas, speaks to reporters after passage of a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, on April 30, 2026 at the U.S.Capitol in Washington, D.C.
(Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)"For too long, Washington has rewarded longevity with greater power, higher pay, and deeper entrenchment.If members of Congress want to serve beyond 12 years absent a constitutional amendment limiting them, they should do so without taxpayer-funded salaries and without monopolizing committee chairs and leadership positions," Roy said, according to a press release."This bill helps ensure that public service remains exactly that: service to the people, not a lifelong career in politics," he said, according to the release.Roy, who has served in the U.S.
House of Representatives since 2019, lost the Texas attorney general Republican primary runoff contest last month to Lone Star State Sen.Mayes Middleton.SENATORS AGREE TO FORGO SHUTDOWN PAYCHECKS — BUT MANY WON'T FEEL THE PAINThe U.S.
Capitol Building is seen at sunset on June 6, 2026 in Washington, D.C.(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)The text of ...