[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3792 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3792

    To restore integrity, goodwill, honesty, and trust to Congress.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 11, 1996

    Mr. Bass (for himself, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Camp, Mr. 
      Chrysler, Mr. Coble, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Duncan, Mr. English of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Foley, Mr. Franks of New Jersey, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. 
 Longley, Mr. Neumann, Mr. Radanovich, Ms. Rivers, Mr. Shays, and Mr. 
    Tate) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on House Oversight, and in addition to the Committees on 
  Government Reform and Oversight, Rules, National Security, and the 
 Judiciary, 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 restore integrity, goodwill, honesty, and trust to Congress.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``R.I.G.H.T. Congress Act''.

                  TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL COMPENSATION

SEC. 101. ACCRUAL RATES FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND CONGRESSIONAL 
              EMPLOYEES UNDER CSRS AND FERS.

    (a) CSRS.--
            (1) Members.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 8339(c) of title 5, United 
                States Code, is amended by striking all that follows 
                ``with respect to--'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) so much of his service as a Member as was performed 
        before the beginning of the One Hundred Fifth Congress;
            ``(2) so much of his military service as--
                    ``(A) is creditable for the purpose of this 
                subsection; and
                    ``(B) was performed before the beginning of such 
                Congress; and
            ``(3) so much of his Congressional employee service as was 
        performed before the beginning of such Congress;
by multiplying 2\1/2\ percent of his average pay by the years of that 
service.''.
                    (B) Technical amendment.--Section 8332(d) of title 
                5, United States Code, is amended by striking ``section 
                8339(c)(1)'' and inserting ``section 8339(c)''.
            (2) Congressional employees.--Section 8339(b) of title 5, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``so much of'' after ``is computed 
                with respect to''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``as was performed before the 
                beginning of the One Hundred Fifth Congress,'' before 
                ``by multiplying''.
            (3) Capitol police.--Section 8339(q) of title 5, United 
        States Code, is amended by striking ``in acccordance with 
        subsection (b),'' and inserting ``in accordance with subsection 
        (b) (disregarding the amendments made by section 101(a)(2) of 
        the R.I.G.H.T. Congress Act),''.
    (b) FERS.--
            (1) Members.--Section 8415(b) of title 5, United States 
        Code, is amended by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``shall, 
        to the extent that such service was performed before the 
        beginning of the One Hundred Fifth Congress,''.
            (2) Congressional employees.--Section 8415(c) of title 5, 
        United States Code, is amended by striking ``shall'' and 
        inserting ``shall, to the extent that such service was 
        performed before the beginning of the One Hundred Fifth 
        Congress,''.
            (3) Provisions relating to the 1.1 percent accrual rate.--
        Section 8415(g) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``an employee 
                under paragraph (2),'' and inserting ``an employee or 
                Member under paragraph (2),'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2) by inserting ``or Member'' 
                after ``in the case of an employee'' and by striking 
                ``Congressional employee,''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection--
            ``(A) this subsection shall not apply in the case of a 
        Member or Congressional employee whose separation (on which 
        entitlement to annuity is based) occurs before the beginning of 
        the One Hundred Fifth Congress; and
            ``(B) in the case of a Member or Congressional employee to 
        whom this subsection applies, the 1.1 percent accrual rate 
        shall apply only with respect to any period of service other 
        than a period with respect to which the 1.7 percent accrual 
        rate applies under subsection (b) or (c).''.

SEC. 102. ELIMINATION OF AUTOMATIC ANNUITY ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF 
              CONGRESS.

    The portion of anuity of a Member of Congress which is based solely 
on service as a Member of Congress shall not be subject to a COLA 
adjustment under section 8340 or 8462 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 103. ELIMINATION OF AUTOMATIC PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEMBERS OF 
              CONGRESS; RECORDED VOTE REQUIRED ON ANY PAY ADJUSTMENT 
              FOR MEMBERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorganization 
Act of 1946 is amended to read as follows:
    ``Sec. 601. (a)(1) Until otherwise provided under section 225 of 
the Federal Salary Act of 1967 (2 U.S.C. 351 and following) or any 
other provision of law, the annual rate of pay for--
            ``(A) each Senator, Member of the House of Representatives, 
        and Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident 
        Commissioner from Puerto Rico,
            ``(B) the President pro tempore of the Senate, the majority 
        leader and the minority leader of the Senate, and the majority 
        leader and the minority leader of the House of Representatives, 
        and
            ``(C) the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
shall be the rate payable for each such office or position on the date 
of the enactment of the R.I.G.H.T. Congress Act.
    ``(2)(A) Any bill or resolution, and any amendment to any bill or 
resolution, that provides for any adjustment in the amount of pay 
payable for any office or position referred to in paragraph (1) may be 
adopted by the House of Representatives only by a vote recorded so as 
to reflect the vote of each Member voting.
    ``(B) The provisions of subparagraph (A) are enacted--
            ``(i) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the House 
        of Representatives and, as such, they shall be considered as 
        part of the rules of the House, and such rule shall supersede 
        other rules only to the extent inconsistent therewith; and
            ``(ii) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        the House to change such rule at any time, in the same manner, 
        and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the 
        House.
    ``(C) This paragraph shall not apply with respect to any 
recommendations which are subject section 225(i) of the Federal Salary 
Act of 1967.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the day 
after the date of the first election of Representatives (within the 
meaning of the 27th article of amendment to the Constitution of the 
United States) occurring after the date of the enactment of this Act.

                           TITLE II--LOBBYING

SEC. 201. LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS FOR FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND 
              STAFF.

    (a) Time Limit.--Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``1 year'' in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and 
(5) and inserting ``2 years''.
    (b) Committee Staff.--Section 207(e)(2)(B) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i), 
by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ``; 
and'' and by adding after clause (ii) the following:
            ``(iii) any employee of a committee of Congress of which 
        such Senator or Member was a member.''.
    (c) Special Limitation.--Section 207(e)(6) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(A)'' and subparagraph (B);
            (2) by striking ``and (4)'' and inserting ``(4), and (5)''; 
        and
            (3) by striking ``75 percent'' and inserting ``50 
        percent''.

SEC. 202. DENIAL OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES TO FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO 
              ARE REGISTERED LOBBYISTS.

    (a) House Floor Privileges.--Clause 3 of rule XXXII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives is amended by striking ``and only '' and 
inserting ``, only'', and by inserting ``, and only if they are not 
registered lobbyists under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995'' before 
the period at the end.
    (b) Additional Privileges.--(1) No former Member of Congress who is 
a registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 may 
enter any dining area in the Capital which is reserved for Members of 
Congress or enter any gymnasium facility which is reserved for Members 
of Congress.
    (2) The Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations to carry 
out this subsection.

SEC. 203. REQUIRING IDENTIFICATION FOR REGISTERED LOBBYISTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 
(2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(e) Identification for Registered Lobbyists.--Each person 
required to register under this section shall wear, in a visible 
manner, an identification badge similar to the identification badge 
required for persons who use the press gallery of the House of 
Representatives or the Senate. The form of such identification shall be 
prescribed by the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and 
the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate acting jointly and shall be worn 
when such registered person is in the United States Capitol or in an 
office building of the House of Representatives or the Senate while 
engaged in lobbying activities. When a person registers under 
subsection (a), such person shall be given such a badge.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect with respect 
to registrations under section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 
which occur after the expiration of the 60-day period which begins on 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

                    TITLE III--CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL

SEC. 301. LIMITATION ON TRANSPORTATION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON 
              MILITARY AIRCRAFT.

    (a) Limitation on Transportation.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 157 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 2643. Limitation on transportation of Members of Congress on 
              military aircraft
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense may not provide 
transportation on a military aircraft to a destination for a Member or 
group of Members of Congress unless--
            ``(1) the transportation is provided on a space-available 
        basis as part of the scheduled operations of the military 
        aircraft unrelated to the provision of transportation to the 
        Member or group of Members;
            ``(2) the destination, or an airfield located within a 
        reasonable distance from the destination, is not accessible by 
        regularly scheduled flights of commercial aircraft; or
            ``(3) the transportation is the least expensive method for 
        the Member or group of Members to reach the destination by 
        aircraft.
    ``(b) Special Rule for Members and Staff Travelling to a Hearing.--
The Secretary may not provide transportation on a military aircraft for 
a Member or group of Members of Congress or the staff of the Member or 
group of Members for travel to a hearing of a Committee of Congress 
unless the transportation meets the requirement in subsection (a)(3).
    ``(c) Destination.--The Secretary shall not select the destination 
of a military aircraft to accommodate the travel plans of a Member or 
group of Members of Congress requesting transportation that meets the 
requirement in subsection (a)(1).''.
    ``(d) Member of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term 
`Member of Congress' means a Senator or Representative in, or a 
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new item:

``2643. Limitation on transportation of Members of Congress on military 
                            aircraft.''.
    (b) Prior Approval Requirement for Members and Staff Travelling to 
a Hearing.--A Member or group of Members of the House of 
Representatives or the staff of such Member or group of Members may not 
accept transportation on a military aircraft for travel to a hearing of 
a committee of Congress until the chairman of the committee of 
Congress--
            (1) submits information to the Committee on Standards of 
        Official Conduct of the House of Representatives demonstrating 
        that the transportation is the least expensive method for the 
        Member or group of Members or staff to travel to the hearing by 
        aircraft; and
            (2) receives approval from the Committee on Standards of 
        Official Conduct for the Member or group of Members or staff to 
        accept the transportation.

SEC. 302. RESTRICTION ON FOREIGN TRAVEL BY MEMBERS NOT SEEKING 
              REELECTION.

    The Rules of the House of Representatives are amended by adding at 
the end the following new rule:

                              ``Rule LIII.

   ``restriction on foreign travel by members not seeking reelection.

    ``1. A retiring Member, or such Member's personal staff, shall not 
engage in travel outside the United States pursuant to clause 8 of rule 
I, clause 2(n) or 5(e) of rule XI, or section 502(b) of the Mutual 
Security Act of 1954 (22 U.S.C. 1754), unless the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct determines such travel is essential to 
the official responsibilities of the retiring member.
    ``2. As used in this rule--
            ``(1) a Member is a retiring Member after the earlier of 
        the date upon which the Member--
                    ``(A) announces to the press the intention not to 
                seek election to the House of Representatives for the 
                succeeding Congress;
                    ``(B) fails to meet the qualifying deadline for 
                election to the House of Representatives for the 
                succeeding Congress; or
                    ``(C) is defeated in any primary or general 
                election to the House of Representatives for the 
                succeeding Congress; and
            ``(1) the term `Member' means a Representative in, or a 
        Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the House of 
        Representatives.''.

SEC. 303. LIMITATION ON USE OF TRAVEL AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--(1) Except as provided by paragraph (2) and 
notwithstanding any provision of law or any rule, regulation, or other 
authority, any travel award that accrues by reason of official travel 
of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives may 
be used only with respect to official travel.
    (2) Any travel award that accrues by reason of official travel of a 
Member of the House of Representatives may be used by the spouse or 
children of that Member for travel between Washington, D.C., and the 
district of that Member.
    (b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations to carry 
out this section.
    (c) Definitions.--As used in this section--
            (1) the term ``Member of the House of Representatives'' 
        means a Representative in, or a Delgate or Resident 
        Commissioner to, the Congress;
            (2) the term ``offical travel'' means, with respect to the 
        House of Representatives, travel performed for the conduct of 
        official business of the House of Representatives, including 
        official and representational duties of a Member relating to 
        the district of the Member; and
            (3) the term ``travel award'' means any frequent flier 
        mileage, free travel, discounted travel, or other travel 
        benefit, whether awarded by coupon, membership, or otherwise.
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