[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 424 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 424

      Requiring members, officers, and employees of the House of 
 Representatives to submit reports on travel to the Clerk of the House 
 which include information on the source of funds used to pay for such 
                    travel, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 7, 1998

 Mr. Hamilton (for himself, Mr. Cox of California, Mr. Visclosky, and 
Mr. Campbell) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on House Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Rules, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Requiring members, officers, and employees of the House of 
 Representatives to submit reports on travel to the Clerk of the House 
 which include information on the source of funds used to pay for such 
                    travel, and for other purposes.

    Resolved, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Travel Reform 
Rule of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The House makes the following findings:
            (1) The duties of Members of Congress require knowledge of 
        a broad range of domestic and foreign issues. Domestic and 
        foreign travel can greatly enhance a Member's knowledge, 
        improving the quality of legislation and congressional 
        oversight. At the same time, the lack of personal travel 
        experience can be a valid consideration in evaluating a 
        Member's views on foreign policy and security issues.
            (2) Congressional travel has many concrete benefits. 
        Domestic travel can improve a Member's understanding of the 
        impact government policies have on a particular region or group 
        of citizens. Such travel can also increase public awareness and 
        knowledge of issues before Congress.
            (3) Foreign travel by Members of Congress can advance 
        United States national interests. A Congress that engages in no 
        foreign travel is unequipped to handle the many challenges 
        facing the United States. Travel increases the foreign policy 
        expertise of all Members, who must vote regularly on programs 
        and issues that commit significant United States resources 
        abroad. Travel alerts Members to United States foreign trade 
        opportunities. Some trips have saved millions of taxpayer 
        dollars by exposing wasteful programs at home and abroad. 
        Firsthand experience has inspired Members to improve the safety 
        and quality of life of United States military and civilian 
        personnel serving abroad. Members have frequently promoted 
        United States interests by calling attention to human rights 
        abuses or environmental dangers during their travel.
            (4) Travel by Members improves foreign understanding of the 
        views of Congress, as well as of the unique and important role 
        Congress plays in formulating United States policy. Members who 
        do not represent the administration directly are often able to 
        say things that United States diplomats cannot. Congressional 
        travel builds important personal relationships with United 
        States allies, and interparliamentary exchanges promote 
        democracy by encouraging foreign legislators.
            (5) Members should share their travel experiences with the 
        House and the general public. Whenever possible, these 
        statements should include policy recommendations based on such 
        travel.
            (6) Abuses of foreign and domestic travel waste taxpayer 
        dollars, increase the influence of special interests, and 
        undermine public confidence in Congress. Abuses discourage 
        Members from taking important, legitimate travel and diminish 
        the ability of Congress to act effectively in many areas.
            (7) Congress has a responsibility to try to eliminate all 
        abuses of travel, while also encouraging Members to take travel 
        that enhances the ability of Congress to advance the interests 
        of the United States.
            (8) Members have a personal responsibility to ensure that 
        their travel not only complies with detailed travel rules but 
        reflects creditably on the House of Representatives (Rule 
        XLIII.1).
            (9) Each Member should endeavor to travel on a periodic 
        basis to inspect important government activities at home and 
        abroad.

SEC. 3. REQUIRING REPORTS ON TRAVEL.

    (a) In General.--Each Member, officer, and employee of the House of 
Representatives shall submit to the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives a report on the following categories of travel 
undertaken by the Member, officer, or employee:
            (1) Travel for which payment is made from the Members' 
        representational allowance or from the accounts of a committee 
        or other office of the House, other than travel undertaken by a 
        Member (or by an employee of the Member or an employee of a 
        committee on which the Member is the chair or ranking minority 
        member) between the district the Member represents and the 
        District of Columbia.
            (2) Travel within a foreign country for which payment is 
        made by the government of a foreign country.
            (3) Travel in support of the official business of the 
        Member, officer, or employee for which payment is made from any 
        source not described in paragraph (1) or (2).
    (b) Information Contained in Report.--
            (1) In general.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) 
        shall contain the following information:
                    (A) An identification of the individual or entity 
                paying for the travel described in the report.
                    (B) A substantive report on the relation of the 
                travel to the official business of the House, including 
                findings and recommendations. Individuals traveling in 
                groups may submit a joint report, which may include 
                separate minority or additional views. Each report 
                submitted under this subparagraph shall include a 
                detailed itinerary of all meetings, interviews, 
                inspection tours, and other official functions in which 
                the individual involved participated, except that the 
                Clerk may withhold from publication certain information 
                contained in the report if the individual certifies 
                that disclosure of the information would--
                            (i) be detrimental to the national security 
                        interests of the United States;
                            (ii) pose a threat of harm or reprisal to 
                        an individual or group;
                            (iii) endanger the confidentiality of 
                        sources or methods of intelligence or law 
                        enforcement operation or activity; or
                            (iv) compromise or hamper a committee 
                        investigation or oversight function.
                    (C) In the case of travel described in subsection 
                (a)(3) for which transportation is provided by the 
                Department of Defense, an estimate of the amount which 
                would have been paid if the transportation had been 
                provided through commercial sources.
                    (D) In the case of travel described in subsection 
                (a)(2), an estimate of the expenses incurred for which 
                payment was made by the foreign government involved.
                    (E) In the case of travel described in subsection 
                (a)(3) (other than travel for which payment is made by 
                the Federal Government), such information as the 
                Member, officer, or employee may reasonably ascertain 
                on the source of the funds used by the individual or 
                entity to pay for the travel (together with any 
                information required under paragraph (2)).
            (2) Specific information required for travel paid for by 
        certain nonprofit organizations.--In the case of travel 
        described in subsection (a)(3) which is paid for (in whole or 
        in part) by an organization exempt from Federal tax under 
        section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986, the Member, officer, or employee shall include in the 
        report submitted under subsection (a)--
                    (A) a copy of the form filed by the organization 
                with the Internal Revenue Service which summarizes the 
                organization's contributions and expenditures; and
                    (B) a copy of the schedule of contributions filed 
                by the organization with the Internal Revenue Service 
                which lists all contributions of $5,000 or more 
received by the organization during a taxable year.
    (c) Deadline.--
            (1) In general.--A Member, officer, or employee shall 
        submit the report required under this section not later than 30 
        days after the completion of the travel involved.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Committee travel expenses.--Clause 2(n)(1)(B) 
                of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
                is amended by striking the second sentence.
                    (B) Gift ban.--Clause 2(a)(1)(B) of rule LI of the 
                Rules of the House of Representatives is amended to 
                read as follows:
            ``(B) meets the applicable reporting requirements with 
        respect to the expenses under the rules of the House of 
        Representatives.''.
    (d) Reports to Committee on Standards of Official Conduct on Late 
Filings.--The Clerk shall notify the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct of any Member, officer, or employee who submits a report 
required under this section after the expiration of the applicable 
deadline, or who submits a report which otherwise fails to meet the 
requirements of this section.
    (e) Member Defined.--In this section, the term ``Member'' includes 
any Resident Commissioner or Delegate to the Congress.

SEC. 4. COMPILATION AND PUBLICATION OF REPORTS ON TRAVEL.

    (a) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 45 days after the end of 
each calendar quarter, the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall 
compile all reports submitted under section 3 for the quarter and 
submit such compilation for publication in the Congressional Record.
    (b) Annual Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each 
session of a Congress, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, in 
consultation with the Committee on House Oversight, shall publish a 
report containing the following information:
            (1) A summary of the total amount of travel described in 
        section 3(a) which is undertaken by Members, officers, and 
        employees of the House during the session, including the total 
        amount expended for travel described in paragraph (1) of such 
        section and the percentage such total amount represents of all 
        expenditures of the House during the session.
            (2) A summary of the foreign travel described in section 
        3(a) which is undertaken by Members, officers, and employees 
        during the session.
    (c) Requiring Posting of Reports on Internet.--The compilation of 
reports required under subsection (a) and the reports published under 
subsection (b) shall be posted on the Internet upon completion in a 
manner that permits any member of the public to obtain such compilation 
and report at any time. For purposes of this subsection, the term 
``Internet'' means the international computer network of both Federal 
and non-Federal interoperable packet-switched data networks.

SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL.

    (a) Limitation on Amount Expended on Travel Paid by Private 
Sources.--No Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
Representatives may accept any travel described in section 3(a)(3) for 
which--
            (1) first class airfare is provided; or
            (2) the total costs of meals and lodging exceed the amount 
        of the maximum per diem rate set forth in applicable Federal 
        law for other employees of the Federal Government.
    (b) Restrictions on Privately-Funded Gifts for Spouse or Family 
Member Travel.--Clause 2(d)(4) of rule LI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by striking the period at the end and 
inserting the following: ``, but only if the travel is not offered or 
enhanced because of the official position of the Member, officer, or 
employee and is customarily provided to others in similar 
circumstances.''.
    (c) Clarification of Per Diem Limit Applicable to Committee 
Travel.--Clause 2(n)(1)(A) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by striking ``applicable Federal law'' and 
inserting ``applicable Federal law for employees of the Federal 
Government who are not Members, officers, or employees of the House of 
Representatives''.
    (d) Requiring Advance Authorization for Costs Exceeding Published 
Per Diem Rates for Other Federal Employees.--Notwithstanding any other 
rule or regulation of the House of Representatives, the total amount 
which may be expended for travel described in section 3(a) by a Member, 
officer, or employee of the House of Representatives on a day may not 
exceed the published per diem rate applicable for employees of the 
Federal Government who are not Members, officers, or employees of the 
House of Representatives unless the Member or officer involved 
authorizes the expenditure of a greater amount prior to the occurrence 
of the travel.
    (e) Requiring Advance Authorization For All Official Travel Paid by 
Private Sources.--
            (1) In general.--No Member, officer, or employee of the 
        House of Representatives may accept any travel described in 
section 3(a)(3) (other than travel for which payment is made by the 
Federal Government) unless the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct has authorized the acceptance of the travel prior to the 
commencement of the travel.
            (2) Special requirements for authorization for employee 
        travel.--In the case of travel of an employee, the advance 
        authorization required under paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) the name of the employee;
                    (B) the name of the person who will reimburse the 
                employee for the travel;
                    (C) the time, place, and purpose of the travel; and
                    (D) a determination that the travel is in 
                connection with the duties of the employee as an 
                officeholder and would not create the appearance that 
                the employee is using public office for private gain.
            (3) Standards for review.--In determining whether to 
        authorize a Member, officer, or employee to accept travel under 
        paragraph (1), the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 
        shall examine--
                    (A) whether the person paying for the travel has a 
                direct interest in any Federal legislation and (if so) 
                whether the acceptance of the travel will have an 
                adverse impact on the integrity of the legislative 
                process, taking into consideration public perceptions; 
                and
                    (B) whether the acceptance of the travel is 
                prohibited under this resolution (or the amendments 
                made by this resolution) or is otherwise prohibited 
                under the Rules of the House of Representatives.
            (4) Conforming amendment relating to gift ban.--Clause 2 of 
        rule LI of the Rules of the House of Representatives is 
        amended--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (a)(1)(A) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(A) meets the applicable requirements for advance 
        authorization under the rules of the House of Representatives, 
        and''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (b).

SEC. 6. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 90 days after the adoption of this resolution, the 
Committee on House Oversight, in consultation with the Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct, shall issue regulations to carry out 
this resolution, together with guidelines for activities undertaken by 
Members, officers, and employees while on official travel, including 
recommendations on the appropriate balance of time spent on official 
and non-official business and on appropriate meetings and activities 
while traveling in foreign nations.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This resolution shall apply with respect to calendar quarters 
beginning after the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the 
date of the adoption of this resolution, except that the requirement 
that a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives 
file the information described in section 3(b)(2)(B) shall apply with 
respect to calendar quarters beginning after the first taxable year 
which begins after the date of the adoption of this resolution.
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