Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005 - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require: (1) quarterly instead of semiannual filing of lobbying disclosures reports; (2) electronic filing; (3) maintenance of certain lobbying disclosure information in an electronic data base, available to the public free of charge over the Internet; (4) identification of each executive official and Member of Congress with whom lobbying contacts are made; (5) disclosure by registered lobbyists of all past executive and congressional employment; and (6) disclosure of grassroots lobbying communications by paid lobbyists.
Extends from one to two years the ban on lobbying contacts by former senior and very senior executive personnel, former Members of Congress, and officers and employees of the legislative branch with any officer or employee of the entity in which such person served before his or her tenure terminated.
Requires public disclosure by Members of Congress of employment negotiations.
Subjects to fines and penalties a Member of Congress or an employee of the House who wrongfully influences, on a partisan basis, an entity's employment decisions or practices.
Amends the Code of Official Conduct in the House to prohibit favoritism.
Requires certification that congressional travel meets certain conditions, and establishes civil fines for false certifications.
Requires the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to develop and revise guidelines on reasonable expenses or expenditures for official government travel.
Calls for reviews and semiannual reports by the Comptroller General on activities carried out by the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate under the Act, subject to congressional committee hearings.
Increases the penalty for failure to comply with lobbying disclosure requirements.
Requires appointment of a bipartisan ethics task force to make recommendations on: (1) strengthening ethics oversight and enforcement in the House; and (2) providing the resources necessary to accomplish this goal.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2412 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2412
To provide more rigorous requirements with respect to ethics and
lobbying.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 17, 2005
Mr. Meehan (for himself, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Baird, Ms. Baldwin, Mr.
Berry, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr.
Butterfield, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Case, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Cleaver, Mr.
Cooper, Mr. Costa, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mr.
Davis of Alabama, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Eshoo, Mr.
Filner, Mr. Ford, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Gene Green of Texas,
Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Harman, Mr. Holt, Mr. Kildee, Mr.
Kind, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Ms.
Zoe Lofgren of California, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Markey, Ms. Matsui, Mrs.
McCarthy, Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. McDermott, Mr. McGovern, Mr.
McNulty, Mr. Menendez, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Moore of
Kansas, Mr. Olver, Mr. Owens, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Price of
North Carolina, Mr. Ross, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Scott of
Virginia, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Solis, Mr. Stark, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Taylor
of Mississippi, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Udall of New Mexico,
Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Watson, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr.
Evans) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on
Standards of Official Conduct and Rules, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide more rigorous requirements with respect to ethics and
lobbying.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Special Interest
Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--ENHANCING LOBBYING DISCLOSURE
Sec. 101. Quarterly filing of lobbying disclosure reports.
Sec. 102. Electronic filing of lobbying disclosure reports.
Sec. 103. Public database of lobbying disclosure information.
Sec. 104. Identification of officials with whom lobbying contacts are
made.
Sec. 105. Disclosure by registered lobbyists of all past executive and
congressional employment.
Sec. 106. Disclosure of grassroots activities by paid lobbyists.
Sec. 107. Disclosure of lobbying activities by certain coalitions and
associations.
TITLE II--SLOWING THE REVOLVING DOOR
Sec. 201. Extension from 1 to 2 years of ban on attempting to influence
by senior executive personnel, former
Members of Congress, and officers and
employees of the legislative branch.
Sec. 202. Reform of waiver process for acts affecting a personal
financial interest.
Sec. 203. Public disclosure by Members of Congress of employment
negotiations.
Sec. 204. Wrongfully influencing, on a partisan basis, an entity's
employment decisions or practices.
Sec. 205. Amendment to Code of Official Conduct to prohibit favoritism.
TITLE III--CURBING EXCESSES IN PRIVATELY FUNDED TRAVEL
Sec. 301. Required certification that congressional travel meets
certain conditions.
Sec. 302. False certification in connection with congressional travel.
Sec. 303. Increased disclosure of travel by Members.
Sec. 304. Guidelines respecting travel expenses.
TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING ENFORCEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF ETHICS AND
LOBBYING
Sec. 401. Comptroller General review and semiannual report on
activities carried out by Clerk of the
House and Secretary of the Senate under
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
Sec. 402. Increased penalty for failure to comply with lobbying
disclosure requirements.
Sec. 403. Hearings, recommendations, and report regarding activities of
lobbyists.
Sec. 404. Ethics task force.
TITLE I--ENHANCING LOBBYING DISCLOSURE
SEC. 101. QUARTERLY FILING OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REPORTS.
(a) Quarterly Filing Required.--Section 5 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``Semiannual'' and inserting
``Quarterly'';
(B) by striking ``the semiannual period'' and all
that follows through ``July of each year'' and insert
``the quarterly period beginning on the first days of
January, April, July, and October of each year''; and
(C) by striking ``such semiannual period'' and
insert ``such quarterly period''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``semiannual report'' and inserting
``quarterly report'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``semiannual
filing period'' and inserting ``quarterly period'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``semiannual
period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''; and
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``semiannual
filing period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Definition.--Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1602) is
amended in paragraph (10) by striking ``six month period'' and
inserting ``three-month period''.
(2) Registration.--Section 4 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)(A) by striking
``semiannual period'' and inserting ``quarterly
period''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(3)(A) by striking
``semiannual period'' and inserting ``quarterly
period''.
(3) Enforcement.--Section 6 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1605) is
amended in paragraph (6) by striking ``semiannual period'' and
inserting ``quarterly period''.
(4) Estimates.--Section 15 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1610) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ``semiannual
period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ``semiannual
period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''.
(5) Dollar amounts.--
(A) Section 4 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is
further amended--
(i) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(i), by striking
``$5,000'' and inserting ``$2,500'';
(ii) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii), by
striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$10,000'';
(iii) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking
``$10,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''; and
(iv) in subsection (b)(4), by striking
``$10,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''.
(B) Section 5 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is
further amended--
(i) in subsection (c)(1), by striking
``$10,000'' and ``$20,000'' and inserting
``$5,000'' and ``$10,000'', respectively; and
(ii) in subsection (c)(2), by striking
``$10,000'' both places such term appears and
inserting ``$5,000''.
SEC. 102. ELECTRONIC FILING OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REPORTS.
Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604)
is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Electronic Filing Required.--A report required to be filed
under this section shall be filed in electronic form, in addition to
any other form that may be required by the Secretary of the Senate or
the Clerk of the House of Representatives.''.
SEC. 103. PUBLIC DATABASE OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE INFORMATION.
(a) Database Required.--Section 6 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is further amended--
(1) in paragraph (7) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(9) maintain, and make available to the public over the
Internet, without a fee or other access charge, in a
searchable, sortable, and downloadable manner, an electronic
database that--
``(A) includes the information contained in
registrations and reports filed under this Act;
``(B) directly links the information it contains to
the information disclosed in reports filed with the
Federal Election Commission under section 304 of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434);
and
``(C) is searchable and sortable to the maximum
extent practicable, including searchable and sortable
by each of the categories of information described in
section 4(b) or 5(b).''.
(b) Availability of Reports.--Section 6 of such Act is further
amended in paragraph (4) by inserting before the semicolon at the end
the following: ``and, in the case of a report filed in electronic form
pursuant to section 5(d), shall make such report available for public
inspection over the Internet not more than 48 hours after the report is
so filed''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (9)
of section 6 of such Act, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 104. IDENTIFICATION OF OFFICIALS WITH WHOM LOBBYING CONTACTS ARE
MADE.
Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604)
is further amended in subsection (b)(2)--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as
subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) for each specific issue listed pursuant to
subparagraph (A), a list identifying each covered
executive branch official and each Member of Congress
with whom a lobbyist employed by the registrant engaged
in a lobbying contact with respect to that issue;''.
SEC. 105. DISCLOSURE BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS OF ALL PAST EXECUTIVE AND
CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
Section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is
further amended in subsection (b)(6) by striking ``or a covered
legislative branch official'' and all that follows through ``as a
lobbyist on behalf of the client,'' and inserting ``or a covered
legislative branch official,''.
SEC. 106. DISCLOSURE OF GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES BY PAID LOBBYISTS.
(a) Disclosure of Grassroots Activities.--Section 3 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602) is further amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
``(17) Grassroots lobbying communication.--The term
`grassroots lobbying communication' means an attempt to
influence legislation or executive action through the use of
mass communications directed to the general public and designed
to encourage recipients to take specific action with respect to
legislation or executive action, except that such term does not
include any communications by an entity directed to its
members, employees, officers, or shareholders. For purposes of
this paragraph, a communication is designed to encourage a
recipient if any of the following applies:
``(A) The communication states that the recipient
should contact a legislator, or should contact an
officer or employee of an executive agency.
``(B) The communication provides the address, phone
number, and contact information of a legislator or of
an officer or employee of an executive agency.
``(C) The communication provides a petition, tear-
off postcard, or similar material for the recipient to
send to a legislator or to an officer or employee of an
executive agency.
``(D)(i) Subject to clause (ii), the communication
specifically identifies an individual who--
``(I) is in a position to consider or vote
on the legislation;
``(II) represents the recipient in
Congress; or
``(III) is an officer or employee of the
executive agency to which the legislation or
executive action relates.
``(ii) A communication described in clause (i) is a
grassroots lobbying communication only if it is a
communication that cannot meet the `full and fair
exposition' test as nonpartisan analysis, study, or
research.''.
(b) Separate Itemization of Grassroots Expenses.--Section 5 of the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is further amended in
subsection (b)--
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting after ``total amount of
all income'' the following: ``(including an itemization of the
total amount relating specifically to grassroots lobbying
communications and, within that amount, an itemization of the
total amount specifically relating to broadcast media
grassroots lobbying communications)''; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting after ``total expenses''
the following: ``(including an itemization of the total amount
relating specifically to grassroots lobbying communications
and, within that total amount, an itemization of the total
amount specifically relating to broadcast media grassroots
lobbying communications)''.
SEC. 107. DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BY CERTAIN COALITIONS AND
ASSOCIATIONS.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 3 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Client.--
``(A) In general.--The term `client' means any
person or entity that employs or retains another person
for financial or other compensation to conduct lobbying
activities on behalf of that person or entity. A person
or entity whose employees act as lobbyists on its own
behalf is both a client and an employer of such
employees.
``(B) Treatment of coalitions and associations.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clauses (ii) and (iii), in the case of a
coalition or association that employs or
retains other persons to conduct lobbying
activities, each of the individual members of
the coalition or association (and not the
coalition or association) is the client. For
purposes of section 4(a)(3), the preceding
sentence shall not apply, and the coalition or
association shall be treated as the client.
``(ii) Exception for certain tax-exempt
associations.--In case of an association--
``(I) which is described in
paragraph (3) of section 501(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
exempt from tax under section 501(a) of
such Code, or
``(II) which is described in any
other paragraph of section 501(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
exempt from tax under section 501(a) of
such Code and which has substantial
exempt activities other than lobbying
with respect to the specific issue for
which it engaged the person filing the
registration statement under section 4,
the association (and not its members) shall be
treated as the client.
``(iii) Exception for certain members.--
``(I) In general.--Information on a
member of a coalition or association
need not be included in any
registration under section 4 if the
amount reasonably expected to be
contributed by such member toward the
activities of the coalition or
association of influencing legislation
is less than $500 per any quarterly
period.
``(II) Exception.--Subclause (I)
shall not apply with respect to any
member who unexpectedly makes aggregate
contributions of more than $500 in any
quarterly period, and the date the
aggregate of such contributions first
exceeds $500 in such period shall be
treated as the date of first employment
or retention to make a lobbying contact
for purposes of section 4.
``(iv) Look-thru rules.--In the case of a
coalition or association which is treated as a
client under the first sentence of clause (i)--
``(I) such coalition or association
shall be treated as employing or
retaining other persons to conduct
lobbying activities for purposes of
determining whether any individual
member thereof is treated as a client
under clause (i), and
``(II) information on such
coalition or association need not be
included in any registration under
section 4 of the coalition or
association with respect to which it is
treated as a client under clause
(i).''.
(b) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to--
(A) coalitions and associations listed on
registration statements filed under section 4 of the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and
(B) coalitions and associations for whom any
lobbying contact is made after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) Special rule.--In the case of any coalition or
association to which the amendments made by this Act apply by
reason of paragraph (1)(B), the person required by such section
4 to file a registration statement with respect to such
coalition or association shall file a new registration
statement within 30 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
TITLE II--SLOWING THE REVOLVING DOOR
SEC. 201. EXTENSION FROM 1 TO 2 YEARS OF BAN ON ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE
BY SENIOR EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL, FORMER MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, AND OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH.
(a) Senior and Very Senior Executive Personnel.--Section 207 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended in each of subsections (c)(1)
and (d)(1) by striking ``within 1 year after'' and inserting ``within 2
years after''.
(b) Former Members of Congress and Officers and Employees of the
Legislative Branch.--Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended in each of paragraphs (1)(A), (2)(A), (3), (4)(A), and (5)(A)
by striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 years''.
SEC. 202. REFORM OF WAIVER PROCESS FOR ACTS AFFECTING A PERSONAL
FINANCIAL INTEREST.
Section 208 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) by inserting after ``the Government official
responsible for appointment to his or her position''
the following: ``and the Office of Government Ethics'';
and
(B) by striking ``a written determination made by
such official'' and inserting ``a written determination
made by the Office of Government Ethics, after
consultation with such official,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``the official
responsible for the employee's appointment, after review of''
and inserting ``the Office of Government Ethics, after
consultation with the official responsible for the employee's
appointment and after review of''; and
(3) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) by striking ``Upon request'' and all that
follows through ``Ethics in Government Act of 1978.''
and inserting ``In each case in which the Office of
Government Ethics makes a determination granting an
exemption under subsection (b)(1) or (b)(3) to a
person, the Office shall, not later than 3 business
days after making such determination, make available to
the public pursuant to the procedures set forth in
section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978,
and publish in the Federal Register, such determination
and the materials submitted by such person in
requesting such exemption.''; and
(B) strike ``the agency may withhold'' and insert
``the Office of Government Ethics may withhold''.
SEC. 203. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OF EMPLOYMENT
NEGOTIATIONS.
(a) House of Representatives.--The Code of Official Conduct set
forth in rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is
amended by redesignating clause 14 as clause 15 and by inserting after
clause 13 the following new clause:
``14. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall
publicly disclose the fact that he or she is negotiating or has
any arrangement concerning prospective employment if a conflict
of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest may
exist. Such disclosure shall be made within 3 days after the
commencement of such negotiation or arrangement.''.
(b) Senate.--[Text to be supplied by the Senate].
SEC. 204. WRONGFULLY INFLUENCING, ON A PARTISAN BASIS, AN ENTITY'S
EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS OR PRACTICES.
Whoever, being a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress or an employee of either House
of Congress, with the intent to influence on the basis of political
party affiliation an employment decision or employment practice of any
private or public entity (except for the Congress), directly or
indirectly (including through an agent such as an agent of a national
committee of a political party)--
(1) takes or withholds, or offers or threatens to take or
withhold, an official act; or
(2) influences, or offers or threatens to influence, the
official act of another;
shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for
not more than 15 years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding
any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.
SEC. 205. AMENDMENT TO CODE OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT TO PROHIBIT FAVORITISM.
(a) House of Representatives.--Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives (known as the Code of Official Conduct) is amended
by redesignating clause 14 as clause 15 and by inserting after clause
13 the following new clause:
``14. A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House may not take or withhold, or threaten to take or
withold, any official action on the basis of partisan affiliation
(except as permitted by clause 9) or the campaign contributions or
support of any person or the prospect of personal gain either for
oneself or any other person.''.
(b) Senate.--[Text to be supplied by the Senate.]
TITLE III--CURBING EXCESSES IN PRIVATELY FUNDED TRAVEL
SEC. 301. REQUIRED CERTIFICATION THAT CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL MEETS
CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
(a) House of Representatives.--Clause 5 of rule XXV of the Rules of
the House of Representatives is amended by redesignating paragraphs (e)
and (f) as paragraphs (f) and (g), respectively, and by inserting after
paragraph (d) the following new paragraph:
``(e)(1) Except as provided by subparagraph (2), before a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House may
accept a gift of transportation or lodging otherwise permissible under
this clause from any person, such Member, Delegate, Resident
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, as applicable, shall
obtain a written certification from such person (and provide a copy of
such certification to the Clerk) that--
``(A) the trip was not planned, organized, arranged, or
financed by a registered lobbyist or foreign agent and was not
organized at the request of a registered lobbyist or foreign
agent; and
``(B) the person did not accept, from any source, funds
specifically earmarked for the purpose of financing the travel
expenses.
The Clerk shall make public information received under this
subparagraph as soon as possible after it is received.
``(2) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner is not required
to obtain a written certification for a gift or transportation or
lodging described in subdivision (A), (B), (C), (D), (F), or (G) of
paragraph (a)(1).''.
(b) Senate.--[Text to be supplied by the Senate].
SEC. 302. FALSE CERTIFICATION IN CONNECTION WITH CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL.
(a) In General.--Whoever makes a false certification in connection
with the travel of a Member, officer, or employee of either House of
Congress (within the meaning given those terms in section 207 of title
18, United States Code) shall, upon proof of such offense by a
preponderance of the evidence, be subject to a civil fine depending on
the extent and gravity of the violation.
(b) Maximum Fine.--The maximum fine per offense under this section
depends on the number of separate trips in connection with which the
person committed an offense under this section, as follows:
(1) First trip.--For each offense committed in connection
with the first such trip, the amount of the fine shall be not
more than $100,000 per offense.
(2) Second trip.--For each offense committed in connection
with the second such trip, the amount of the fine shall be not
more than $300,000 per offense.
(3) Any other trips.--For each offense committed in
connection with any such trip after the second, the amount of
the fine shall be not more than $500,000 per offense.
SEC. 303. INCREASED DISCLOSURE OF TRAVEL BY MEMBERS.
(a) House of Representatives.--Clause 5(b)(1)(A)(ii) of rule XXV of
the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by--
(1) inserting ``a detailed description of each of'' before
``the expenses''; and
(2) inserting ``, including a description of all meetings,
tours, events, and outings during such travel'' before the
period at the end thereof.
(b) Senate.--[Text to be supplied by the Senate.]
SEC. 304. GUIDELINES RESPECTING TRAVEL EXPENSES.
(a) House of Representatives.--Clause 5(f) of rule XXV of the Rules
of the House of Representatives is amended by inserting ``(1)'' after
``(f)'' and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(2) Within 90 days after the date of adoption of this
subparagraph and at annual intervals thereafter, the Committee on
Standards of official Conduct shall develop and revise, as necessary,
guidelines on what constitutes `reasonable expenses' or `reasonable
expenditures' for purposes of paragraph (b)(4). In developing and
revising the guidelines, the committee shall take into account the
maximum per diem rates for official Government travel published
annually by the General Services Administration, the Department of
State, and the Department of Defense.''.
(b) Senate.--[Text to be supplied by the Senate.]
TITLE IV--STRENGTHENING ENFORCEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF ETHICS AND
LOBBYING
SEC. 401. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW AND SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY CLERK OF THE HOUSE AND
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE UNDER LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT OF
1995.
(a) Ongoing Review Required.--The Comptroller General shall review
on an ongoing basis the activities carried out by the Clerk of the
House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate under section
6 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605). The review
shall emphasize--
(1) the effectiveness of those activities in securing the
compliance by lobbyists with the requirements of that Act; and
(2) whether the Clerk and the Secretary have the resources
and authorities needed for effective oversight and enforcement
of that Act.
(b) Semiannual Reports.--Twice yearly, not later than January 1 and
not later than July 1 of each year, the Comptroller General shall
submit to Congress a report on the review required by subsection (a).
The report shall include the Comptroller General's assessment of the
matters required to be emphasized by that subsection and any
recommendations of the Comptroller General to--
(1) improve the compliance by lobbyists with the
requirements of that Act; and
(2) provide the Clerk and the Secretary with the resources
and authorities needed for effective oversight and enforcement
of that Act.
SEC. 402. INCREASED PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOBBYING
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 7 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1606) is
amended by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting ``$100,000''.
SEC. 403. HEARINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND REPORT REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF
LOBBYISTS.
The Committee on House Administration and the Committee on the
Judiciary are each authorized and directed to conduct hearings on each
semiannual report submitted by the Comptroller General pursuant to
section 401(b) and to report, as soon as practicable, the results of
such hearings and any legislative recommendations to address the issues
raised by such semiannual report.
SEC. 404. ETHICS TASK FORCE.
(a) Appointment of Ethics Task Force.--Within 30 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Speaker and the minority leader
shall each appoint 5 Members to a bipartisan ethics task force with
equal representation of the majority and minority parties to make
recommendations--
(1) on strengthening ethics oversight and enforcement in
the House of Representatives; and
(2) on providing the resources necessary to accomplish this
goal.
(b) Consultation and Final Report.--The ethics task force shall
consult outside experts in its work and report its findings and
recommendations to the House of Representatives not later than 60 days
after it is established.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Standards of Official Conduct, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Standards of Official Conduct, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Standards of Official Conduct, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Standards of Official Conduct, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line