Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, introduced legislation Tuesday that would strip congressional pay and leadership privileges from lawmakers who serve more than 12 cumulative years in the House or Senate.

The proposal, called the Statutory Term Limits on Congressional Pay and Power Act, would not prevent lawmakers from seeking reelection or continuing to serve in Congress.

Instead, members who remain in office after reaching 12 years of service would lose their congressional salary and become ineligible to serve as committee chairs, ranking members, or congressional leaders.

"For too long, Washington has rewarded longevity with greater power, higher pay, and deeper entrenchment," Roy said in a statement announcing the bill.

The measure is designed as an alternative to a constitutional amendment imposing mandatory term limits. Under Roy's proposal, voters could continue electing experienced lawmakers, but those members would no longer receive compensation or the institutional advantages that come with seniority.

"If members of Congress want to serve beyond 12 years absent a constitutional amendment limiting them, they should do so without taxpayer-funded salaries and without monopolizing committee chairs and leadership positions," Roy said.

Roy argued that Congress wasn't intended to become a destination for lifelong political careers.

In a social media post promoting the legislation, he wrote, "Washington was never meant to be a retirement home for career politicians."

He added that lawmakers who remain in Congress after 12 years should receive "no salary, no committee gavels, no leadership posts."

The legislation would apply to both House members and senators beginning with the 121st Congress in 2029. Lawmakers who cross the 12-year threshold could continue serving if reelected but would do so as rank-and-file members without leadership authority.

Roy said the bill is intended to reduce incentives for careerism in Congress while preserving voters' ability to decide who represents them.

"This bill helps ensure that public service remains exactly that: service to the people, not a lifelong career in politics," Roy said.

The Daily Signal reported that notable members potentially affected beginning in 2029 would be Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

Some of the House members who could be affected include Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.; and Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who has been in office for over 45 years.