Amid renewed concerns over the age and health of members in Congress, lawmakers remain split on whether to impose term limits that would cap the number of terms an individual can serve as a federal representative.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has authored a constitutional amendment proposing to limit senators to two terms and House members to three. He noted that an overwhelming majority of Americans support this measure, which he believes would prevent lawmakers from remaining in office indefinitely.

Others, like Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), suggest that lawmakers should recognize their own personal limits but hesitate to endorse a uniform term limit for all members. Warner also pointed out that some lawmakers argue the oldest members tend to extend their tenure as long as possible.

Representative Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) commented that the long tenure of some lawmakers likely contradicts the original design of the country.

Some lawmakers emphasize voter choice in the matter. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) stated, "And if they decide they want to elect an 80-year-old or 100-year-old that's up to the voters." Similarly, Grothman, referring to Senator Grassley, said, "I think the voters — when they’re electing, if they want to elect Grassley, you shouldn’t take that right away from them."

The debate continues as Congress balances concerns about institutional expertise with calls for fresh leadership and accountability.

Sources