Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	4,124	n/a	n/a
Reported in House	5,179	52	33%
Engrossed in House	6,868	51	38%
Placed on Calendar Senate	6,913	8 Show Changes Hide Changes	0%

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HR 2316 EHPCSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2316 AN ACT

To provide more rigorous requirements with respect to disclosure and enforcement of lobbying laws and regulations, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--CLOSING THE REVOLVING DOOR

Sec. 101. Disclosure by Members and staff of employment negotiations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Wrongfully influencing a private entity's employment decisions or practices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 103. Additional restrictions on contractors.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 104. Notification of post-employment restrictions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 105. Restriction on congressional employees regarding former employers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 106. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING

Sec. 201. Quarterly filing of lobbying disclosure reports.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Electronic filing of lobbying disclosure reports.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Additional lobbying disclosure requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Quarterly reports on other contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 205. Prohibition on provision of gifts or travel by registered lobbyists to Members of Congress and to congressional employees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 206. Disclosure of lobbying activities by certain coalitions and associations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 207. Disclosure by registered lobbyists of past executive branch and congressional employment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 208. Public database of lobbying disclosure information; maintenance of information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 209. Sense of Congress regarding lobbying by immediate family members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 210. Inapplicability to certain political committees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 211. Effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--ENFORCEMENT OF LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS

Sec. 301. Increased civil and criminal penalties for failure to comply with lobbying disclosure requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE IV--INCREASED DISCLOSURE

Sec. 401. Prohibition on official contact with spouse of Member who is a registered lobbyist.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 402. Posting of travel and financial disclosure reports on public website of Clerk of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 403. Limiting gifts to Members, officers, and employees of the House from State and local governments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE V--ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Sec. 501. Criminal penalties for public officials.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Rule of construction.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--CLOSING THE REVOLVING DOOR

SEC. 101. DISCLOSURE BY MEMBERS AND STAFF OF EMPLOYMENT NEGOTIATIONS.

The Rules of the House of Representatives are amended by redesignating rules XXVII and XXVIII as rules XXVIII and XXIX, respectively, and by inserting after rule XXVI the following new rule:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`RULE XXVII

`Disclosure by Members and Staff of Employment Negotiations

`1. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall not directly negotiate or have any agreement of future employment or compensation until after his or her successor has been elected, unless such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, within 3 business days after the commencement of such negotiation or agreement of future employment or compensation, files with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct a statement, which must be signed by the Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, regarding such negotiations or agreement, including the name of the private entity or entities involved in such negotiations or agreement, and the date such negotiations or agreement commenced.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`2. An officer or an employee of the House earning in excess of 75 percent of the salary paid to a Member shall notify the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct that he or she is negotiating or has any agreement of future employment or compensation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`3. The disclosure and notification under this rule shall be made within 3 business days after the commencement of such negotiation or agreement of future employment or compensation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`4. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, and an officer or employee to whom this rule applies, shall recuse himself or herself from any matter in which there is a conflict of interest or an appearance of a conflict for that Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee under this rule and shall notify the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of such recusal. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner making such recusal shall, upon such recusal, submit to the Clerk for public disclosure the statement of disclosure under clause 1 with respect to which the recusal was made.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. WRONGFULLY INFLUENCING A PRIVATE ENTITY'S EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS OR PRACTICES.

(a) In General- Chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`Sec. 227. Wrongfully influencing a private entity's employment decisions by a Member of Congress

`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 partisan political affiliation an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) takes or withholds, or offers or threatens to take or withhold, an official act, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) influences, or offers or threatens to influence, the official act of another,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





shall be fined under this title 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.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) No Inference- Nothing in section 227 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, shall be construed to create any inference with respect to whether the activity described in section 227 of title 18, United States Code, was a criminal or civil offense before the enactment of this Act, including under section 201(b), 201(c), any of sections 203 through 209, or section 872, of title 18, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`227. Wrongfully influencing a private entity's employment decisions by a Member of Congress.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRACTORS.

(a) Prohibition- Chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 219 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`Sec. 220. Restrictions on contractors with Congress

`(a) Restrictions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- If a person who is an attorney or a law firm, including a professional legal corporation or partnership, or an attorney employed by such a law firm, enters into a contract to provide services to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a committee of Congress, or a subcommittee of any such committee,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a Member of the leadership of the House of Representatives or a Member of the leadership of the Senate,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) a covered legislative branch official, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) a working group or caucus organized to provide legislative services or other assistance to Members of Congress,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





the attorney or law firm entering into the contract, and the law firm by which the attorney entering into the contract is employed, may not, during the period prescribed in paragraph (2), knowingly make, with the intent to influence, any communication or appearance before any person described in paragraph (3), on behalf of any other person (except the United States), in connection with any matter on which such attorney or law firm seeks official action by a Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress, in his or her official capacity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) PERIOD DESCRIBED- The period referred to in paragraph (1) is the period during which the contract described in paragraph (1) is in effect, and a period of 1 year after the attorney or law firm, as the case may be, is no longer subject to the contract.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) PERSONS DESCRIBED- The persons referred to in paragraph (1) with respect to appearances or communications by an attorney or law firm are any Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Penalty- Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be punished as provided in section 216.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Definitions- For purposes of this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the term `committee of Congress' includes any standing committee, joint committee, and select committee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the term `covered legislative branch official' has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3)(A) a person is an employee of a House of Congress if that person is an employee of the House of Representatives or an employee of the Senate;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the terms `employee of the House of Representatives' and `employee of the Senate' have the meanings given those terms in section 207(e)(7);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) an attorney is `employed' by a law firm if the attorney is an employee of, or a partner or other member of, the law firm;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) the terms `Member of the leadership of the House of Representatives' and `Member of the leadership of the Senate' have the meanings given those terms in section 207(e)(7); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) the term `Member of Congress' means a Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The table of sections for chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 219 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`220. Restrictions on contractors with Congress.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 216 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking `or 209' each place it appears and inserting `, 209, or 220'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. NOTIFICATION OF POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS.

Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) NOTIFICATION OF POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS- After a Member of the House of Representatives or an elected officer of the House of Representatives leaves office, or after the termination of employment with the House of Representatives of an employee of the House of Representatives covered under paragraph (2), (3), or (4), the Clerk of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, shall notify the Member, officer, or employee of the beginning and ending date of the prohibitions that apply to the Member, officer, or employee under this subsection, and also notify each office of the House of Representatives with respect to which such prohibitions apply of those dates. The Clerk shall also post the information contained in such notification on the public Internet site of the Office of the Clerk in a format that is searchable, sortable, and downloadable.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. RESTRICTION ON CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYEES REGARDING FORMER EMPLOYERS.

(a) Restriction- Chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 220 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`Sec. 221. Additional restriction on congressional employees

`(a) Restriction- Any person--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) who is a congressional employee,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) who, before becoming employed as a congressional employee, was employed as a lobbyist, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) who, within 1 year after leaving employment as a lobbyist, knowingly makes, in carrying out his or her official responsibilities as a congressional employee, any communication to or appearance before--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the organization that employed the person as a lobbyist, if the person was not self-employed,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) any entity that was a client of the person while employed as a lobbyist, or any entity that was a client of the organization described in subparagraph (A) while the person was employed as a lobbyist, or is a client of that organization during that 1-year period,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





on a matter relating specifically to that organization or client,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





shall be punished as provided in section 216.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Definitions- In this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the term `congressional employee' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) an elected officer of either House of Congress; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) any employee to which any of the restrictions contained in paragraphs (1) though (5) of section 207(e) apply;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the term `lobbyist' means a person that is registered or required to register as a lobbyist under section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, and any employee of an organization that is registered or required to be registered under section 4(b)(6) of that Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) the term `client' has the meaning given that term in section 3(2) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 220 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`221. Additional restriction on congressional employees.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to individuals who become congressional employees on or after January 1, 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) Section 101- The amendment made by section 101 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to negotiations commenced, and agreements entered into, on or after that date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Section 102- The amendments made by section 102 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Section 103- The amendments made by section 103 shall take effect on May 23, 2007, and shall apply with respect to any contract entered into before, on, or after that date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Section 104- The amendments made by section 104 shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING

SEC. 201. 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--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking `Semiannual' and inserting `Quarterly';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking `the semiannual period' and all that follows through `July of each year' and insert `the quarterly period beginning on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking `such semiannual period' and inserting `such quarterly period'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `semiannual report' and inserting `quarterly report';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (2), by striking `semiannual filing period' and inserting `quarterly period';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (3), by striking `semiannual period' and inserting `quarterly period'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in paragraph (4), by striking `semiannual filing period' and inserting `quarterly period'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) DEFINITION- Section 3(10) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended by striking `six month period' and inserting `3-month period'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REGISTRATION- Section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (a)(3)(A), by striking `semiannual period' and inserting `quarterly period'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking `semiannual period' and inserting `quarterly period'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ENFORCEMENT- Section 6 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is amended in paragraph (6) by striking `semiannual period' and inserting `quarterly period'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) ESTIMATES- Section 15 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1610) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking `semiannual period' and inserting `quarterly period'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking `semiannual period' and inserting `quarterly period'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) DOLLAR AMOUNTS- Section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is further amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(i), by striking `$5,000' and inserting `$2,500';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii), by striking `$20,000' and inserting `$10,000';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking `$10,000' and inserting `$5,000'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in subsection (b)(4), by striking `$10,000' and inserting `$5,000'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. ELECTRONIC FILING OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REPORTS.

(a) In General- Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Effective Date- The requirement in section 5(d) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, as added by subsection (a) of this section, that reports be filed electronically shall take effect on the day after the end of the first calendar quarter that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. ADDITIONAL LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Gifts- Section 5(b) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (3), by striking `and' after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (4) by striking the period and inserting `; and'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) a certification that the lobbying firm, or registrant, and each employee listed as a lobbyist under section 4(b)(6) or paragraph (2)(C) of this subsection for that lobbying firm or registrant, has not provided, requested, or directed a gift, including travel, to a Member of Congress or an officer or employee of either House of Congress in violation rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate or rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Requests for Congressional Earmarks- Section 5(b)(2)(A) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking `bill numbers' and inserting the following: `bill numbers, requests for Congressional earmarks (as defined in clause 9(d) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Tenth Congress),'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. QUARTERLY REPORTS ON OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS.

(a) Other Contributions- Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is further amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Quarterly Reports on Other Contributions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 45 days after the end of the quarterly period beginning on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year, or on the first business day after the first day of such month if that day is not a business day, each person who is registered or is required to register under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 4(a), and each employee who is or is required to be listed as a lobbyist under section 4(b)(6) or subsection (b) of this section, shall file a report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives containing--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the name of the person;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) in the case of an employee, his or her the employer;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) the names of all political committees established or administered by the person;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) the name of each Federal candidate or officeholder, leadership PAC, or political party committee, to whom aggregate contributions equal to or exceeding $200 were made by the person or a political committee established or administered by the person within the calendar year, and the date and amount of each contribution made within the quarterly period;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) the date, recipient, and amount of funds contributed, disbursed, or arranged (or a good faith estimate thereof) by the person or a political committee established or administered by the person during the quarterly period--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) to pay the cost of an event to honor or recognize a covered legislative branch official or covered executive branch official;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) to, or on behalf of, an entity that is named for a covered legislative branch official, or to a person or entity in recognition of such official;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) to an entity established, financed, maintained, or controlled by a covered legislative branch official or covered executive branch official, or an entity designated by such official; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) to pay the costs of a meeting, retreat, conference, or other similar event held by, or for the benefit of, 1 or more covered legislative branch officials or covered executive branch officials;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) any information reported to the Federal Election Commission under the second sentence of section 315(a)(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (relating to reports by intermediaries and conduits of the original source and the intended recipient of contributions under such Act) during the quarterly period by the person or a political committee established or administered by the person; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) the amount and recipient of any funds provided to an organization described in section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is not treated as a political committee under section 301(4) under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) DEFINITION- In this subsection, the term `leadership PAC' means, with respect to an individual holding Federal office, an unauthorized political committee that is associated with an individual holding Federal office, except that such term shall not apply in the case of a political committee of a political party.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Contributions Bundled for Certain Recipients-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- 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:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Quarterly Reports on Contributions Bundled For Certain Recipients-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 45 days after the end of the quarterly period beginning on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year, each registered lobbyist who bundles 2 or more contributions made to a covered recipient in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 for such covered recipient during such quarterly period shall file a report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives containing--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the name of the registered lobbyist;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) in the case of an employee, his or her employer; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) the name of the covered recipient to whom the contribution is made, and to the extent known the aggregate amount of such contributions (or a good faith estimate thereof) within the quarter for the covered recipient.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION- In filing a report under paragraph (1), a registered lobbyist shall exclude from the report any information described in paragraph (1)(C) which is included in any other report filed by the registered lobbyist with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives under subsection (e).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) REQUIRING SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION PRIOR TO FILING REPORTS- Not later than 25 days after the end of a period for which a registered lobbyist is required to file a report under paragraph (1) which includes any information described in such section with respect to a covered recipient, the registered lobbyist shall transmit by certified mail to the covered recipient involved a statement containing--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the information that will be included in the report with respect to the covered recipient;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the source of each contribution included in the aggregate amount referred to in paragraph (1)(C) which the registered lobbyist bundled for the covered recipient during the period covered by the report and the amount of the contribution attributable to each such source; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) a notification that the covered recipient has the right to respond to the statement to challenge and correct any information included before the registered lobbyist files the report under paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) DEFINITION OF REGISTERED LOBBYIST- For purposes of this subsection, the term `registered lobbyist' means a person who is registered or is required to register under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 4(a), or an individual who is required to be listed under section 4(b)(6) or subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) DEFINITION OF BUNDLED CONTRIBUTION- For purposes of this subsection, a registered lobbyist `bundles' a contribution if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the bundled contribution is received by a registered lobbyist for, and forwarded by a registered lobbyist to, the covered recipient to whom the contribution is made; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the bundled contribution will be or has been credited or attributed to the registered lobbyist through records, designations, recognitions or other means of tracking by the covered recipient to whom the contribution is made.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) OTHER DEFINITIONS- In this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the term `contribution' has the meaning given such term in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), except that such term does not include a contribution in an amount which is less than $200;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the terms `candidate', `political committee', and `political party committee' have the meaning given such terms in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) the term `covered recipient' means a Federal candidate, an individual holding Federal office, a leadership PAC, a multicandidate political committee described in section 315(a)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(4)), or a political party committee; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) the term `leadership PAC' has the meaning given such term in subsection (e)(2).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to the second quarterly period described in section 5(f)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (as added by paragraph (1)) which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act and each succeeding quarterly period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 205. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF GIFTS OR TRAVEL BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND TO CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYEES.

(a) Prohibition- The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 25. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF GIFTS OR TRAVEL BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND TO CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYEES.

`(a) Prohibition- Any person described in subsection (b) may not make a gift or provide travel to a Member, officer, or employee of Congress, if the person has knowledge that the gift or travel may not be accepted under the rules of the House of Representatives or the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Persons Subject to Prohibition- The persons subject to the prohibition under subsection (a) are any lobbyist that is registered or is required to register under section 4(a)(1), any organization that employs 1 or more lobbyists and is registered or is required to register under section 4(a)(2), and any employee listed or required to be listed as a lobbyist by a registrant under section 4(b)(6).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Effective Date- The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 206. DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BY CERTAIN COALITIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS.

Paragraph (2) of section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) CLIENT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) TREATMENT OF COALITIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv), 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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN TAX-EXEMPT ASSOCIATIONS- In the case of an association--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





the association (and not its members) shall be treated as the client.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS- 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 during the quarterly period during which the registration would be made.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) NO DONOR OR MEMBERSHIP LIST DISCLOSURE- No disclosure is required under this Act, by reason of this subparagraph, with respect to lobbying activities if it is publicly available knowledge that the organization that would be identified under this subparagraph is affiliated with the client concerned or has been publicly disclosed to have provided funding to the client, unless the organization in whole or in major part plans, supervises, or controls such lobbying activities. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information about individuals who are members of, or donors to, an entity treated as a client by this Act or an organization identified under this subparagraph.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 207. DISCLOSURE BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS OF PAST EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

Section 4(b)(6) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603(b)(6)) is amended 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,'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 208. PUBLIC DATABASE OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE INFORMATION; MAINTENANCE OF INFORMATION.

(a) Database Required- Section 6 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is further amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (7), by striking `and' at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) includes the information contained in registrations and reports filed under this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(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); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(10) retain the information contained in a registration or report filed under this Act for a period of at least 6 years after the registration or report (as the case may be) is filed.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Availability of Reports-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 6(4) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is amended 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), make such report available for public inspection over the Internet not more than 48 hours after the report is so filed'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the day after the end of the first calendar quarter that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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 the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605), as added by subsection (a) of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 209. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING LOBBYING BY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS.

It is the sense of the Congress that the use of a family relationship by a lobbyist who is an immediate family member of a Member of Congress to gain special advantages over other lobbyists is inappropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 210. INAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN POLITICAL COMMITTEES.

The amendments made by this title shall not apply to the activities of any political committee described in section 301(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(4)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 211. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Except as otherwise provided, the amendments made by this title shall apply with respect to any quarterly filing period under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 that begins on or after January 1, 2008.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE III--ENFORCEMENT OF LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS

SEC. 301. INCREASED CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.

Section 7 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1606) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking `Whoever' and inserting `(a) Civil Penalty- Whoever';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking `$50,000' and inserting `$100,000'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Criminal Penalty- Whoever knowingly and corruptly fails to comply with any provision of this Act shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years or fined under title 18, United States Code, or both.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE IV--INCREASED DISCLOSURE

SEC. 401. PROHIBITION ON OFFICIAL CONTACT WITH SPOUSE OF MEMBER WHO IS A REGISTERED LOBBYIST.

Rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`7. A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall prohibit all staff employed by that Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner (including staff in personal, committee, and leadership offices) from having any official contact with that individual's spouse if that spouse is a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 or is employed or retained by such a lobbyist for the purpose of influencing legislation.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 402. POSTING OF TRAVEL AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS ON PUBLIC WEBSITE OF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(a) Requiring Posting on Internet- The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall post on the public Internet site of the Office of the Clerk, in a format that is searchable, sortable, and downloadable, each of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The advance authorizations, certifications, and disclosures filed with respect to transportation, lodging, and related expenses for travel under clause 5(b) of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives by Members (including Delegates and Resident Commissioners to the Congress), officers, and employees of the House.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The reports filed under section 103(h)(1) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 by Members of the House of Representatives (including Delegates and Resident Commissioners to the Congress).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Applicability and Timing-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) APPLICABILITY- Subject to paragraph (2), subsection (a) shall apply with respect to information received by the Clerk of the House of Representatives on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TIMING- The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) not later than August 1, 2008, post the information required by subsection (a) that the Clerk receives by June 1, 2008; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) not later than the end of each 45-day period occurring after information is required to be posted under subparagraph (A), post the information required by subsection (a) that the Clerk has received since the last posting under this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) OMISSION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION- Members of the House of Representatives (including Delegates and Resident Commissioners to the Congress) shall be permitted to omit personally identifiable information not required to be disclosed on the reports posted on the public Internet site under this section (such as home address, Social Security numbers, personal bank account numbers, home telephone, and names of children) prior to the posting of such reports on such public Internet site.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) ASSISTANCE IN PROTECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION- The Clerk of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, shall include in any informational materials concerning any disclosure that will be posted on the public Internet site under this section an explanation of the procedures for protecting personally identifiable information as described in this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Retention- The Clerk shall maintain the information posted on the public Internet site of the Office of the Clerk under this section for a period of at least 6 years after receiving the information.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 403. LIMITING GIFTS TO MEMBERS, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

(a) Gifts From State and Local Governments- Clause 5(a)(3)(O) of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by striking `, by a State or local government,'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendment- Clause 5(b)(1)(A) of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by inserting `a State or local government or' before `a private source'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE V--ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

SEC. 501. CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

(a) In General- Subchapter D of chapter 227 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`Sec. 3587. Increased imprisonment for certain offenses by public officials

`(a) General Rule- In any Federal criminal case in which a public official is convicted of an offense against the United States--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) consisting of conduct during the course of official duty, intended to enrich that official; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) involving bribery, fraud, extortion, or theft of public funds greater than $10,000;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





the sentencing judge may increase the sentence of imprisonment by an amount of up to 2 years. The sentencing judge may double the sentence of imprisonment that would otherwise be imposed in that case: Provided, however that in no instance may the sentencing judge be allowed to increase the sentence by more than 2 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Definition- In this section, the term `public official' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) an elected official of the United States or of a State or local government;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) a presidentially-appointed official; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) an official appointed to a State or local governmental office by an elected official of a State or local government.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter D of chapter 227 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`3587. Increased imprisonment for certain offenses by public officials.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 601. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech, free exercise, or free association clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives May 24, 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk. LORRAINE C. MILLER, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2316 AN ACT

To provide more rigorous requirements with respect to disclosure and enforcement of lobbying laws and regulations, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink