U.S. Term Limits to Congress Members: Don't Break Your Term Limits Pledge

    WASHINGTON, DC, July 11, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- U.S. Term Limits is calling on all 112 signers of the U.S. Term Limits pledge in the House of Representatives to keep the promise they made to constituents, in light of reports that Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Jim Jordan have been asking them to break their word. These members pledged to support "no longer limit" than three House terms and two Senate terms, but are now being asked to break their word in favor of a six-term limit for House members.

"These members made a signed commitment to their constituents that they would support no longer limit than three House terms," said Howard Rich, Chairman of U.S. Term Limits. "Now, Kevin McCarthy is telling them to abandon their honor in favor of phony term limits that would let politicians stay in D.C. for 24 years. We call on all pledge signers to keep their word by opposing McCarthy's useless term limits plan."

The U.S. Term Limits amendment reads, "I, (insert name), pledge that as a member of Congress I will cosponsor and vote for the U.S. Term Limits Amendment of three (3) House terms and two (2) Senate terms and no longer limit." The "and no longer limit" provision in the pledge means members may not support term limits proposals longer than three House terms. McCarthy is asking them to break their pledge by supporting a six-term limit for the House.

This distinction is of critical importance. For term limits to have any effectiveness as a policy, the limit must be short enough to eliminate careerism and the toxic seniority system in Congress. A six-term House limit is like a 150 mph speed limit: while it is nominally a limit, it is much too weak to have a real impact.

Recently, several members of McCarthy's own caucus have been attacked by pro-term limits groups for breaking their word. Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Young Kim (R-CA) have all faced billboards and TV advertisements in their districts for refusing to comply with the pledge.

"There is still plenty of time to change course and do the right thing," Rich said, adding "however, we obviously reserve the right to hold any and all pledge breakers accountable."

U.S. Term Limits is the largest grassroots term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits on all elected officials, particularly on the U.S. Congress

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