# Understanding the CLEAN Congress Act

This bill takes aim at two practices that its supporters say undermine good government. The first part tackles what's known as "omnibus bills"—those massive legislative packages that bundle together dozens of unrelated topics into a single vote. Under this bill, Congress would no longer be allowed to do that. Instead, each bill sent to the President would have to focus on just one subject, and that subject would need to be clearly stated in the bill's title. So instead of a 4,000-page bill that funds the military, fixes immigration law, and changes tax policy all at once, Congress would have to pass separate bills for each topic. This means lawmakers and the public would know exactly what they're voting on, and it would be harder to sneak unpopular provisions into legislation by burying them alongside popular ones.

The second part of the bill addresses what supporters see as special treatment for members of Congress. Currently, various federal laws contain exceptions that apply only to Congress members and their staff—things like workplace rules, ethics requirements, or other regulations that don't apply to ordinary citizens. This bill would eliminate those special exemptions, requiring that the same laws apply equally to everyone, including Congress members. The bill does carve out one important exception: Congress members would still be allowed to follow rules that let them do their actual jobs, like accessing the Capitol building to vote and legislate.

In practical terms, if this bill became law, it would make Congress operate differently and potentially make it harder for members to get special treatment under federal law. The single-subject requirement could slow down the legislative process since bills would need to be more focused and numerous, but supporters argue this would make government more transparent and accountable. Critics might worry it could make it harder to pass complex legislation that requires compromise on multiple issues at once.

CLEAN Congress Act

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act or the CLEAN Congress Act This bill (1) requires bills, orders, resolutions, or votes submitted by Congress to the President to include only one subject that is clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title; and (2) makes ineffective any provision of law that excludes its application to a Member of Congress or to an employee in a Member's office.