Davis to Kick Off Ethics Reform With GRC Hearing What Steps Are Needed to Restore Public s Trust?

January 31, 2006

What: Government Reform Committee Legislative Hearing: "Restoring the Public Trust: A Review of the Federal Pension Forfeiture Act"

When: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2006 at 10:00 A.M.(A brief business meeting will precede the hearing)

Where: ROOM 2154, RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

Background:
Faced with various corruption-related political scandals, Congress must take immediate steps to restore the public's trust in the federal government. As one critical component of these efforts, Congress should enact legislation to ensure top policymakers in the executive and legislative branches are sufficiently deterred from yielding to outside influences.

Chairman Davis' "Federal Pension Forfeiture Act," to be introduced tomorrow, would provide such a deterrent by denying federal retirement benefits for federal policymakers convicted of crimes such as accepting bribes, defrauding the federal government, embezzling public funds, and falsifying federal documents. Witnesses will discuss this specific proposal, as well as general reform.

The legislation would deny federal retirement benefits to a public official who gets convicted of a crime related to public corruption that is punishable by more than one year imprisonment for an act committed while the individual was employed by the federal government. The legislation would apply to Members of Congress, congressional employees, and political appointees in the executive branch.

It would apply to the following crimes: bribery of public officials and witnesses; government officials illegally seeking outside compensation; officers or employees acting as agents of foreign principals; conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud United States; embezzlement; and making false statements.

Witnesses:

Panel One

The Honorable Linda M. Springer
Director, Office of Personnel Management

Panel Two

Ms. Chellie Pingree
President and Chief Executive Officer, Common Cause

Ms. Joan Claybrook
President, Public Citizen