HR 633 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, and political party committees for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 23, 2007

Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. SESTAK, Ms. GIFFORDS, Mr. MCNULTY, and Mrs. DAVIS of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, and political party committees for whom they collect or arrange contributions, 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. REQUIREMENT FOR LOBBYISTS TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS.

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) 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 20th day of January, April, July, and October of each year, or on the first business day after the 20th if that day is not a business day, each registrant under paragraphs (1) or (2) of section 4(a), and each employee who is listed as a lobbyist on a current registration or report filed under this Act, 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 registrant or lobbyist;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the employer of the lobbyist or the names of all political committees established or administered by the registrant;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) 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 lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant within the calendar year, and the date and amount of each contribution made within the quarter;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) the name of each Federal candidate or officeholder, leadership PAC, or political party committee for whom a fundraising event was hosted, co-hosted, or sponsored by the lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant within the quarter, and the date, location, and total amount (or good faith estimate thereof) raised at such event;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) the name of each Federal candidate or officeholder, leadership PAC, or political party committee for whom aggregate contributions equal to or exceeding $200 were collected or arranged within the calendar year, and to the extent known the aggregate amount of such contributions (or a good faith estimate thereof) within the quarter for each recipient;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) the name of each covered legislative branch official or covered executive branch official for whom the lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant provided, or directed or caused to be provided, any payment or reimbursements for travel and related expenses in connection with the duties of such covered official, including for each such official--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) an itemization of the payments or reimbursements provided to finance the travel and related expenses, and to whom the payments or reimbursements were made with the express or implied understanding or agreement that such funds will be used for travel and related expenses;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the purpose and final itinerary of the trip, including a description of all meetings, tours, events, and outings attended;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) whether the registrant or lobbyist traveled on any such travel;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) the identity of the listed sponsor or sponsors of such travel; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(v) the identity of any person or entity, other than the listed sponsor or sponsors of the travel, who directly or indirectly provided for payment of travel and related expenses at the request or suggestion of the lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(G) the date, recipient, and amount of funds contributed, disbursed, or arranged (or a good faith estimate thereof) by the lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant--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





`(H) the date, recipient, and amount of any gift (that under the standing rules of the House of Representatives or Senate counts towards the $100 cumulative annual limit described in such rules) valued in excess of $20 given by the lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant to a covered legislative branch official or covered executive branch official; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) the name of each Presidential library foundation and Presidential inaugural committee, to whom contributions equal to or exceeding $200 were made by the lobbyist, the registrant, or a political committee established or administered by the registrant within the calendar year, and the date and amount of each such contribution within the quarter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this subsection, contributions, donations, or other funds--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) are `collected' by a lobbyist where funds donated by a person other than the lobbyist are received by the lobbyist for, or forwarded by the lobbyist to, a Federal candidate or other recipient; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) are `arranged' by a lobbyist--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) where there is a formal or informal agreement, understanding, or arrangement between the lobbyist and a Federal candidate or other recipient that such contributions, donations, or other funds will be or have been credited or attributed by the Federal candidate or other recipient in records, designations, or formal or informal recognitions as having been raised, solicited, or directed by the lobbyist; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) where the lobbyist has actual knowledge that the Federal candidate or other recipient is aware that the contributions, donations, or other funds were solicited, arranged, or directed by the lobbyist.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) CLARIFICATIONS- For the purposes of this paragraph--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) the term `lobbyist' shall include a lobbyist, registrant, or political committee established or administered by the registrant; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) the term `Federal candidate or other recipient' shall include a Federal candidate, Federal officeholder, leadership PAC, or political party committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection, the following definitions shall apply:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) GIFT- The term `gift'--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) means a gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) includes, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) gifts of services;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) training;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(III) transportation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(IV) lodging and meals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) LEADERSHIP PAC- The term `leadership PAC' means with respect to an individual holding Federal office, an unauthorized political committee which 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