This week, freshman U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., announced his support for a proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to have congressional term limits.
Waltz is backing a resolution from U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Tex., to limit time on Capitol Hill to 12 years, with members of the U.S. House restricted to six terms and members of the U.S. Senate to two terms.
After cosponsoring the resolution at the start of the week, Waltz explained his support for the resolution on Wednesday.
“Congress should be about servant leadership and making selfless decisions to address our country’s issues,” Waltz said. "When I was sworn into office, the federal government was partially shut down because the previous Congress couldn’t perform its most basic duty. Term limits will hold Washington, D.C. accountable so we can accomplish the goals of the American people.”
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., are championing a similar proposal in the U.S. Senate.
Arrington’s resolution will have a hard time passing the House now that it’s controlled by the Democrats. U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is the only member of the House majority to back the resolution. Arrington introduced the resolution at the start of the year and it’s been sent to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee which sent it to the U.S. House Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee.
Waltz is not the only member of the Florida delegation in the House pushing term limits. At the start of the year, U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., teamed up with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to offer a proposed amendment on congressional term limits. Under the amendment backed by Cruz and Rooney, senators would be able to serve two six-year terms while members of the House would be able to serve three two-year terms. Scott is cosponsoring that proposal.
