To prohibit the use of appropriated funds for publicity, propaganda, or certain lobbying purposes, and for other purposes.
Mr. HURT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To prohibit the use of appropriated funds for publicity, propaganda, or certain lobbying purposes, and for other purposes.
(a) Prohibition on Use of Funds- No part of the funds appropriated or made available by any Act may be used, other than for normal and recognized Federal executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, electronic communication, radio, television, or video presentation that is--
(1) designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before the Congress or any State or local legislature or legislative body, except in presentation by an officer or employee of the United States or its departments or agencies directly to the Congress; or
(2) designed to support or defeat any proposed or pending regulation, administrative action, or order issued by the executive branch of any State or local government.
(b) Prohibition on Use of Funds for Salaries- No part of the funds appropriated or made available by any Act may be used to pay the salary or expenses of the recipient of any Federal grant or Federal contract, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity that is--
(1) designed to influence the enactment of legislation before the Congress or any State or local legislature or legislative body, or
(2) designed to influence any regulation, administrative action, or Executive order proposed or pending before any State government, State legislature, or local legislature or legislative body,
other than for participation by an officer or employee of the United States or its departments or agencies in normal and recognized Federal executive-legislative relationships.
(c) Construction- The prohibitions in subsections (a) and (b) shall include prohibitions on any activity to advocate or promote any proposed, pending, or future Federal, State, or local tax increase, or any proposed, pending, or future requirement or restriction on any legal consumer product, including its sale or marketing, including but not limited to the advocacy or promotion of gun control.
(d) Certification- Each recipient of funds appropriated or made available by any Act of Congress shall, as a condition of the receipt of the funds, certify in writing that the recipient is in compliance with this section, section 1913 of title 18, United States Code, and section 1352 of title 31, United States Code.
(e) Penalties- A violation of this section shall constitute a violation of section 1352 of title 31, United States Code, in addition to any other penalty that applies.
(f) Definitions- For purposes of this section, the terms ‘agency’, ‘Federal contract’, ‘Federal grant’, ‘local government’, ‘reasonable compensation’, ‘recipient’, and ‘State’ have the meanings given those terms in section 1352 of title 31, United States Code, as those terms apply to Federal contracts and Federal grants.
(g) Applicability- This section applies to funds appropriated or made available before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act that are used on or after such date of enactment.
U.S. Congress - Text of H.R.6520 as Introduced in House No Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Act
