Accountability and Transparency in Ethics Act

To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to reform the ethics process, and for other purposes.

1/4/2007--Introduced.
Accountability and Transparency in Ethics Act - Establishes an independent Investigations Commission within the legislative branch. Requires annual ethics training for Members and employees of the House of Representatives and for registered lobbyists. Amends Rule XXV (Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts) of the Rules of the House to require advance authorization by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of any privately-funded trip by any Member, officer, or employee of the House. Amends such Rule and Rule XXXV (Gifts) of the Standing Rules of the Senate with respect to:
(1) the market value of a flight on an airplane not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate for compensation or hire;
(2) a ban on gifts worth less than $50; and
(3) disbursements for a national party convention event in honor of a Member, officer, or employee. Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) to:
(1) transfer certain functions of the Clerk of the House to the Committee with respect to registration of lobbyists;
(2) revise certain registration and disclosure requirements; and
(3) prescribe civil fines for lobbyists offering certain gifts to Members, officers, or employees. Amends the federal criminal code to revise the one-year ban on lobbying contacts by former Members, officers, or employees of either chamber of Congress. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit conversion of leadership PAC funds to personal use. Prohibits payment of campaign funds, except nominal reimbursements, to immediate family members of candidates. Prohibits involvement of a registered lobbyist in administration of certain campaign committees unless a candidate for federal office. Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House and Rule XXXVII (Conflict of Interest) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require a Member of Congress or Senator to prohibit all of his or her staff from having any official contact with the Member's or Senator's spouse or immediate family member if such individual is a registered lobbyist or is employed or retained by one to influence legislation. Expresses the sense of 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.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Michael Castle [R, DE-0]
• and 1 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Todd Platts [R, PA-19]
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Committees

• House Judiciary
• 5 more
  • House Rules
  • House Standards of Official Conduct
  • House Administration
  • House Judiciary
  • House Judiciary
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Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.97

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
January 04, 2007

Show All Actions (8 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Feb 02, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
• Feb 02, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
• Jan 04, 2007: Referred to House Standards of Official Conduct
• Jan 04, 2007: Referred to House Rules
• Jan 04, 2007: Referred to House House Administration
• Jan 04, 2007: Referred to House Judiciary
• Jan 04, 2007: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Rules, and Standards of Official Conduct, 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.
• Introduced on Jan 04, 2007.

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Related Bills:

• H.R.1754
• H.Res.895
• H.Res.1018

Related Issue Areas:

• Public corruption
• Congress
• Administrative fees
• Bribery
• 58 more
• Budgets
• Campaign funds
• Charter airlines
• Conflict of interests
• Congressional Record
• Congressional agencies
• Congressional committee membership
• Congressional committees (House)
• Congressional elections
• Congressional employees
• Congressional ethics
• Congressional investigations
• Congressional officers
• Congressional publicity
• Congressional reorganization
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Congressional travel
• Corruption in politics
• Criminal justice
• Criminal justice information
• Data banks
• Election candidates
• Elections
• Electronic data interchange
• Electronic government information
• Employee training
• Evidence (Law)
• Ex-Members of Congress
• Families
• Financial disclosure
• Fines (Penalties)
• Gifts
• Government employees
• Government information
• Government paperwork
• House Standards of Official Conduct
• House of Representatives
• House rules and procedure
• Job training
• Judges
• Law
• Licenses
• Lobbying
• Married people
• Members of Congress
• Misconduct in office
• Political action committees
• Political conventions
• Politics and government
• Presidential elections
• Presidents
• Private aviation
• Senate rules and procedure
• Technology
• Telecommunication
• Transportation
• Travel costs
• Valuation

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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In the News

August 13, 2007 First Down

Reigning MVP Ryan Howard (33 HR, 97 RBI) has rebounded from a slow start, and the return of second baseman Chase Utley (.336) from the disabled list this ...

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Blog Coverage

September 12, 2008 Protecting Rights or Changing Laws?

Congressman, thank you again so much for your leadership on this issue. We encourage our listeners to call their congressman and senators and support parental rights, HR 97. I’m Mike Farris.

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August 07, 2008 Diamond Dust: The This Guy Has Staying Power Edition

Chipper Jones could win the NL batting title by missing the rest of the season, he is currently 19 points ahead of Pujols (.369-.350). Carlos Lee is the most underrated player in baseball right now (.309/28 HR/97 RBI).

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June 06, 2008 Group Ride

Last night I participated in a group ride sponsored by the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club. I'd been wanting to do one of these for a long time and it finally worked out. The ride started at 6PM from a local park'n'ride only a few miles from ...

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