The gist

• Repeals Section 213 of the 2026 spending law, which lets senators collect $500,000 each when their phone records were secretly subpoenaed by federal investigators.

Who wins, who loses

• Wins: taxpayers, government accountability groups, lawmakers who oppose special payouts to Congress members.
• Loses: senators (mostly Republicans) whose records were seized during the 2017 leak probe and stand to collect money.

What it does

• Wipes out Section 213 of Public Law 119-37 entirely.
• Restores the original Legislative Branch Appropriations Act language (2 U.S.C. 6628) from 2005.
• Treats the repeal as if Section 213 was never enacted, blocking pending claims.
• Sends the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.

Why should I care?

Supporters say senators shouldn't pocket taxpayer money over routine investigations, calling the original provision self-dealing slipped into a must-pass spending bill. Critics argue the payout deters future government overreach into lawmakers' private communications and protects separation of powers. The fight reveals how Congress sometimes writes laws benefiting themselves. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.