Contact Congress about S. 2561: Close the Revolving Door Act of 2023
Former senators and representatives could never take paid work lobbying Congress after they leave office. Senior staff would face a 6-year wait, and larger lobbying employers would have to report more information.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Close the Revolving Door Act of 2023 is a Senate bill in Congress.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects former members of Congress, senior congressional staff, lobbyists, agents of foreign principals, congressional offices, committees, and larger lobbying employers. Former lawmakers would lose the option of paid lobbying work aimed at Congress. Senior staff and recent lobbyists would face longer job limits. Lobbying employers would have more reporting duties, and the public would get more searchable information about lobbying ties.
Why this matters: The bill matters because it could make it harder for former lawmakers and top aides to turn Congress ties into lobbying work. It could reduce some conflicts of interest, or the appearance of them, while people are still serving in government. It could also make Congress draw from a smaller pool of people with lobbying experience when hiring staff. The new website and reports could make lobbying ties easier to track, but the real effect would depend on how agencies, ethics committees, and prosecutors apply the rules.
Key provisions in S. 2561
- Former senators, representatives, and elected officers of either chamber could never take paid work lobbying Congress after they leave office. The ban covers paid contacts with Congress meant to influence official action for someone else.
- Certain senior congressional staff would have to wait 6 years before lobbying Congress. Current law makes covered staff wait 1 year.
- The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House would run a public website at lobbyists.gov. The site would be easy to search and would combine lobbying information in one place.
- The bill would provide $100,000 for fiscal year 2024. That money would pay to build and run the lobbyists.gov system.
- Recent registered lobbyists and agents of foreign principals could not take some congressional jobs for 6 years. The ban applies to members or committees they substantially lobbied, unless the ethics committee grants a waiver for a compelling national need.
How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 2561
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about S. 2561
- What is S. 2561?
- Former senators and representatives could never take paid work lobbying Congress after they leave office. Senior staff would face a 6-year wait, and larger lobbying employers would have to report more information.
- How do I support or oppose S. 2561?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about S. 2561?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain S. 2561 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
