[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1827 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1827

To prohibit foreign travel by outgoing political appointees and Members 
                  of Congress, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 4, 1996

Mr. Lautenberg introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
           referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit foreign travel by outgoing political appointees and Members 
                  of Congress, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. LIMITATION OF FOREIGN TRAVEL BY CERTAIN POLITICAL APPOINTEES 
              DURING POST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PERIOD.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
section:
``Sec. 5710. Limitation of travel of political appointees during 
              certain post Presidential election periods
    ``(a) For purposes of this section the term--
            ``(1) `political appointee' means any individual who 
        serves--
                    ``(A) in a Senior Executive Service position and is 
                not a career appointee as defined under section 
                3132(a)(4);
                    ``(B) in a position under the Executive Schedule 
                pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 53; or
                    ``(C) in a position of a confidential or policy-
                determining character under schedule C of subpart C of 
                part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; 
                and
            ``(2) `post Presidential election period' means any period 
        beginning on the date immediately following the date of the 
        first Tuesday following the first Monday in November on which 
        the general election of the President occurs, and ending on the 
        January 20 following such an election.
    ``(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c), travel by a 
political appointee may not be paid for under the provisions of this 
subchapter or any other provision of law, if such travel--
            ``(1) is outside of the United States; and
            ``(2) occurs during a post Presidential election period 
        after which the incumbent President shall not return for 
        another term of office as President.
    ``(c)(1) The provisions of subsection (b) shall not apply to travel 
by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the United States 
Trade Representative, or political appointees who are accompanying 
these individuals on affected travel.
    ``(2) The President may waive the provisions of subsection (b) with 
regard to any travel if the President makes a written determination 
that such travel--
            ``(A) cannot reasonably be postponed until after the post 
        Presidential election period; and
            ``(B) is essential to protect or promote vital national 
        interests.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of sections for 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5709 the following:

``5710. Limitation of travel of political appointees during certain 
                            post Presidential election periods.''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION OF FOREIGN TRAVEL BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
              DURING ELECTION PERIODS.

    (a) Limitation.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no 
        funds may be expended for travel by a Member of Congress if 
        such travel--
                    (A) is outside of the United States; and
                    (B) occurs after the date that is 180 days prior to 
                the end of the term of service or date of retirement of 
                the Member of Congress.
            (2) Date of retirement.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        the date of retirement is the date on which the Member is to 
        retire as a Member of Congress, pursuant to a public 
        announcement by or on behalf of the Member.
    (b) Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, with respect to Members of the House of 
        Representatives, and the President pro tempore of the Senate, 
        with respect to Members of the Senate, may waive the 
        prohibition on travel under this section if the travel is 
        determined to be in the interest of the House of 
        Representatives or the Senate, respectively, and the United 
        States.
            (2) Statement.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B) and if a waiver is granted under this subsection, a 
                statement of the waiver shall be printed in the 
                Congressional Record as soon as practicable and shall 
                include a detailed description of the travel involved, 
                the purpose of travel, and an estimate of the costs of 
                the travel.
                    (B) Exception.--If the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives or the President pro tempore of the 
                Senate determines that publication of such a statement 
                would jeopardize national security, or otherwise 
                compromise vital national interests, no statement is 
                required.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section the term ``Member of 
Congress'' includes any Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the 
Congress.
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