[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 97 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 97

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 2007

Mr. Castle (for himself and Mr. Platts) introduced the following bill; 
 which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to reform the ethics 
                    process, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Accountability and Transparency in 
Ethics Act''.

 TITLE I--OUTSIDE INVESTIGATIONS COMMISSION AS SEPARATE INVESTIGATORY 
                                  ARM

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics 
commission within the legislative branch of the Government to be known 
as the Investigations Commission (in this title referred to as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Membership and Chair.--The Commission shall consist of 7 
individuals, 3 appointed by the Speaker, 3 by the minority leader of 
the House of Representatives, and 1 appointed jointly by the Speaker 
and the minority leader and who shall serve as chairman.
    (d) Qualifications.--
            (1) Specific qualifications.--
                    (A) In general.--Only former Members of Congress 
                and retired Federal judges shall be eligible for 
                appointment to the Commission.
                    (B) Retired judge.--
                            (i) In general.--The term ``retired judge'' 
                        means any judge who has retired from the office 
                        and is not serving as a judge pursuant to 
                        recall or otherwise.
                            (ii) Judge.--The term ``judge''--
                                    (I) means any judge of a court 
                                created by Act of Congress under 
                                article III or article I of the United 
                                States Constitution; and
                                    (II) includes any bankruptcy judge 
                                or magistrate judge.
            (2) Disqualifications for appointments.--
                    (A) Lobbying.--No individual who has been a 
                lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
                of 1995 or engages in, or is otherwise employed in, 
                lobbying of the Congress or who is an agent of a 
                foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents 
                Registration Act within the 5-year period immediately 
                preceding appointment shall be eligible for appointment 
                to, or service on, the Commission.
                    (B) Incompatible office.--No member of the 
                Commission appointed under subsection (b) may be an 
                elected public official or an officer or employee of 
                the Federal Government.
            (3) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (e) Term of Office.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        membership on the Commission shall be for 3 Congresses. A 
        member of the Commission who is appointed to a term of office 
        shall only be eligible for appointment for a single term of 
        office.
            (2) First appointments.--Of the members first appointed to 
        the Commission, 2 appointed by the Speaker, 2 appointed by the 
        minority leader, and 1 appointed jointly by them shall have a 
        term of office of 3 Congresses, and the other 4 shall have 
        terms of 2 Congresses.
    (f) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall each be paid at 
a rate equal to the rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive 
Schedule.
    (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum.
    (h) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson or a majority of its members.

SEC. 102. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission is authorized--
            (1) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, 
        officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any 
        law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable 
        to the conduct of such Member, officer, or employee in the 
        performance of his duties or the discharge of his 
        responsibilities, and after notice and hearing (unless the 
        right to a hearing is waived by the Member, officer, or 
        employee), shall report to the Committee on Standards of 
        Official Conduct of the House of Representatives its findings 
        of fact and recommendations, if any, upon the final disposition 
        of any such investigation, and such action as the Commission 
        may deem appropriate in the circumstances;
            (2) to report to the appropriate Federal or State 
        authorities, with the approval of the House of Representatives, 
        any substantial evidence of a violation, by a Member, officer, 
        or employee of the House of Representatives, of any law 
        applicable to the performance of his duties or the discharge of 
        his responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in a 
        Commission investigation; and
            (3) adopt rules governing its procedures to afford 
        protections to respondents comparable those that were provided 
        by clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives in effect immediately before the amendments to 
        such rule made by section 107.

SEC. 103. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission or, on the authority of 
the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this title--
            (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer 
        such oaths; and
            (2) subject to subsection (b), require, by subpoena or 
        otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and 
        the production of such books, records, correspondence, 
        memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission or such 
        designated subcommittee or designated member may determine 
        advisable.
    (b) Subpoenas.--
            (1) In general.--A subpoena may be issued under this 
        subsection only--
                    (A) by the agreement of the chair and the vice 
                chair; or
                    (B) by the affirmative vote of 5 members of the 
                Commission.
            (2) Signature.--Subject to paragraph (1), subpoenas issued 
        under this subsection may be issued under the signature of the 
        chairman or any member designated by a majority of the 
        Commission, and may be served by any person designated by the 
        chairman or by a member designated by a majority of the 
        Commission.
    (c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish 
information deemed necessary by the panel to enable it to carry out its 
duties.
    (d) Treatment of Tie Votes.--Whenever the vote to conduct an 
investigation has the same number of members voting in the affirmative 
as in the negative, then the professional staff, pursuant to rules 
adopted by the Commission, shall conduct a fact-finding investigation 
and report its findings and recommendations to the Commission. Such 
report would either recommend a dismissal of the complaint or the 
commencement of a formal investigation. The Commission shall, upon 
receipt of the findings and recommendation, make the report public. An 
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission would 
be required to commence a formal investigation if the Commission 
determines that the matter merits further inquiry.

SEC. 104. PROCEDURAL RULES.

    (a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the 
official conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
Representatives shall be made by the Commission, and no investigation 
of such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, unless approved 
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.
    (b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation 
undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may 
undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an 
individual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives 
only--
            (1) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, 
        made by or submitted to a Member of the House of 
        Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such 
        Member, or
            (2) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, 
        directly from any citizen of the United States.
    (c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall 
be undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law, 
rule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of 
the alleged violation.
    (d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the 
contents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly 
disclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission 
unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the 
Commission.

SEC. 105. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff 
as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The 
director shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority leader 
and shall be paid at a rate not exceed the rate of basic pay payable 
for Level V of the Executive Schedule.

SEC. 106. ACTION ON HOUSE ETHICS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives of any report of the House Ethics Commission, the 
chairman of the committee shall have the report printed in the 
Congressional Record.
    (b) Committee Consideration of House Ethics Commission 
Recommendations.--After a report referred to in subsection (a) is 
printed in the Congressional Record recommending action by the 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives respecting any alleged violation by a Member, officer, 
or employee of the House of Representatives, of any law, rule, 
regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of 
such Member, officer, or employee in the performance of his duties or 
the discharge of his responsibilities, the committee shall vote upon 
whether to dismiss the underlying complaint, establish an adjudicatory 
subcommittee, or proceed to consider the matter in the full committee.

SEC. 107. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF 
              THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives is amended as follows:
            (1) In paragraph (a)(2), strike the first sentence and 
        insert ``before the House Ethics Commission'' after ``hearing'' 
        in the second sentence.
            (2)(A) In paragraph (b)(1), strike ``(A)'', strike ``, or, 
        except as provided in subparagraph (2), undertake an 
        investigation'', and strike subdivision (B).
            (B) In paragraph (b), strike subparagraphs (2), (3), and 
        (5) and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (6), and (7) as 
        subparagraphs (2), (3), and (4).
            (3) Strike paragraphs (k), (l), (m), and (n).
            (4) In paragraph (o), strike ``(1)'', strike ``an 
        investigative subcommittee or'', strike subparagraphs (2) and 
        (3), and redesignate such paragraph as paragraph (k).
            (5) Strike paragraphs (p) and (q).
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of 
1989 (2 U.S.C. 29d) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (c); and
            (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``an investigative 
        subcommittee'' each place it appears and inserting ``the House 
        Ethics Commission''.

SEC. 108. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This title shall apply with respect to the portion of the One 
Hundred Tenth Congress which occurs after the date of the enactment of 
this Act and each succeeding Congress.

     TITLE II--BETTER ORGANIZATION OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

SEC. 201. MANDATORY ANNUAL ETHICS TRAINING FOR MEMBERS AND HOUSE 
              EMPLOYEES; LICENSING OF LOBBYISTS COMPLETING ETHICS 
              TRAINING.

    Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(r)(1) The committee shall provide annual ethics training to each 
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, and employee of the House of 
Representatives which shall include knowledge of the Code of Official 
Conduct, related House rules, and applicable provisions of law.
    ``(2) A new employee of the House shall receive training under this 
section not later than 30 days after beginning service to the House.
    ``(3) At the end of each session of Congress, the chairman of the 
committee shall have printed in the Congressional Record the names of 
any such individuals who failed to participate in such training during 
that session.
    ``(s)(1) The committee shall provide an 8-hour ethics training 
course to persons desiring to register as lobbyists under the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995 during a Congress. The committee shall issue to 
any person who successfully completes such training a license to engage 
in lobbying activities under that Act during that Congress. Such 
license shall be valid only during that Congress. A fee shall be 
charged for each license in an amount determined by the committee.
    ``(2) Training under subparagraph (1) shall cover information on 
the code of conduct and disclosure requirements applicable to Members, 
officers, and employees of the House, including rules relating to 
acceptance of gifts (including travel and meals), and financial 
disclosure requirements under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
    ``(3) The committee shall suspend the license of any person who 
commits an offense under chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code 
(relating to bribery, graft, and conflicts of interest), or who 
violates section 7(b) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (relating 
to penalties for offering certain gifts).''.

SEC. 202. ETHICS COMMITTEE ADVANCED AUTHORIZATION OF TRAVEL.

    Clause 5(b) of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by inserting at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
    ``(6) Before a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or 
employee of the House may take a privately-funded trip--
            ``(A) that individual shall provide the estimated cost of 
        the trip, the name of the entity paying for the trip, the 
        purpose of the trip, and the proposed itinerary to the 
        Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; and
            ``(B) that committee issues a letter stating that the trip 
        complies with the applicable rules of the House.''.

SEC. 203. STRENGTHENING NONPARTISANSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE 
              COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    Clause 3(g)(1)(A) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by inserting ``and may only be removed from 
their positions for cause'' before the semicolon.

SEC. 204. REQUIREMENT OF FULL PAYMENT AND DISCLOSURE OF CHARTER 
              FLIGHTS.

    (a) House of Representatives.--
            (1) In general.--Clause 5(a)(3)(A) of rule XXV of the Rules 
        of the House of Representatives is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(A)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(ii) For purposes of this subdivision, in the case of a 
        flight on an airplane that is not licensed by the Federal 
        Aviation Administration to operate for compensation or hire, 
        `market value' shall be the fair market value of a charter 
        flight. The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall 
        make public information received under this subdivision as soon 
        as possible after it is received.''.
            (2) Disclosure.--Clause 5 of rule XXV of the Rules of the 
        House of Representatives is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new paragraph:
    ``(g) A Member, officer, or employee who takes a flight described 
in paragraph (a)(3)(A)(ii) shall, with respect to the flight, file a 
report with the Clerk of the House of Representatives for public 
disclosure within 10 days after the flight which provides--
            ``(1) the date of the flight;
            ``(2) the destination of the flight;
            ``(3) the identification of the other individuals who were 
        on the flight, other than those operating the plane; and
            ``(4) the purpose of the trip.''.
    (b) Senate.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph 1(c)(1) of rule XXXV of the 
        Standing Rules of the Senate is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(1)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(B) Market value for a flight on an airplane that is not 
        licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate for 
        compensation or hire shall be the fair market value of a 
        charter flight. The Select Committee on Ethics shall make 
        public information received under this subparagraph as soon as 
        possible after it is received.''.
            (2) Disclosure.--Paragraph 1 of rule XXXV of the Standing 
        Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(g) A Member, officer, or employee who takes a flight described 
in subparagraph (c)(1)(B) shall, with respect to the flight, file a 
report with the Secretary of the Senate for public disclosure within 10 
days after the flight--
            ``(1) the date of the flight;
            ``(2) the destination of the flight;
            ``(3) who else was on the flight, other than those 
        operating the plane; and
            ``(4) the purpose of the trip.''.

SEC. 205. BAN ON ALL GIFTS.

    (a) In General.--Clause 5(a) of rule XXV of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``(A)'', and
                    (B) by striking subdivision (B); and
            (2) by adding at the end of subparagraph (a)(2)(A) the 
        following new sentence: ``The term `gift' also includes 
        payments or other disbursements made, or arranged to be made, 
        for a party, reception, or other event in the honor or 
        recognition of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, 
        officer, or employee that is held at a national party 
        convention.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Attendance at Charity 
Events.--Clause 5(a)(4)(C) of such rule is amended by striking 
``unless--'' and all that follows and inserting a period.

                      TITLE III--LOBBYING REFORMS

SEC. 301. TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS UNDER LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT TO 
              COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

    (a) Filing of Registrations.--Section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``Clerk'' and 
        inserting ``Committee on Standards of Official Conduct''; and
            (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``Clerk'' and inserting 
        ``Committee on Standards of Official Conduct''.
    (b) Penalties.--Section 7 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 
U.S.C. 1606) is amended by striking ``Clerk'' and inserting ``Committee 
on Standards of Official Conduct''.
    (c) Rules of Construction.--Section 8(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1607(c)) is amended by striking ``Clerk'' and 
inserting ``Committee on Standards of Official Conduct''.
    (d) Estimates Based on Tax Reporting System.--Section 15(c)(1) of 
the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1610(c)(1)) is amended by 
striking ``Clerk'' and inserting ``Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct''.

SEC. 302. REGISTRATION FEES.

    Section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1603(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of 
Representatives shall charge a fee for each registration filed with the 
committee, in an amount determined by the committee.''.

SEC. 303. TIMING OF REPORTS; ELECTRONIC FILING.

    Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Report.--No later 
                than'' and inserting ``and Quarterly Reports.--''
            ``(1) Filing in the senate.--No later than'';
                    (B) by striking ``and the Clerk of the House of 
                Representatives''; and
                    (C) by striking the last sentence and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Filing in the house.--No later than 30 days after the 
        end of each 3-month period beginning on the first day of each 
        calendar quarter of each year in which a registrant is 
        registered under section 4, each registrant shall file a report 
        with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the 
        House of Representatives on its lobbying activities during that 
        3-month period.
            ``(3) Separate reports.--A separate report under this 
        subsection shall be filed for each client of the registrant.''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Electronic Filing.--Each report filed under paragraph (2) of 
subsection (a) shall be filed in electronic form, in addition to any 
other form that may be required by the Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct of the House of Representatives.''.

SEC. 304. ELECTRONIC DATABASE.

    Section 6 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``(a) In 
        General.--The Secretary''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Electronic Database.--The Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct of the House of Representatives shall maintain, and make 
available to the public over the Internet, without a fee or other 
access charge, in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable manner, an 
electronic database that--
            ``(1) includes the information contained in reports filed 
        with the committee under this Act; and
            ``(2) is searchable and sortable, at a minimum, by each of 
        the categories of information described in section 5(b).''.

SEC. 305. PENALTIES FOR OFFERING GIFTS.

    Section 7 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1606) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Whoever'' and inserting ``(a) In 
        General.--Whoever''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Penalties for Offering Certain Gifts.--Any person who is--
            ``(1) a lobbyist registered under this Act,
            ``(2) a lobbyist who is an employee of an organization 
        registered under this Act, or
            ``(3) the client of any such lobbyist or organization,
and who offers to a covered legislative branch employee who is 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
Congress, or any officer of employee of the House of Representatives, 
any gift, knowing that such gift violates the rules of the House of 
Representatives, shall, upon proof thereof by a preponderance of the 
evidence, be subject to a civil fine of not more than $50,000.''.

SEC. 306. REVOLVING DOOR.

    Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1) through (6) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(1) Prohibitions.--Any person who is a covered 
        legislative branch official and who--
                    ``(A) within 1 year after the date on which that 
                person leaves office or on which the employment of that 
                person terminates, as the case may be, or
                    ``(B) before the end of the Congress during which 
                that person leaves office or on which the employment of 
                that person terminates, as the case may be,
        whichever period is longer, knowingly makes, with the intent to 
        influence, any communication to or appearance before any of the 
        persons described in paragraph (2), on behalf of any other 
        person (except the United States) in connection with any matter 
        which such former covered legislative branch official seeks 
        action by a Member, officer, or employee of either House of 
        Congress, in his or her official capacity, shall be punished as 
        provided in section 216 of this title.
            ``(2) Persons who may not be contacted.--The persons 
        referred to in paragraph (1) with respect to appearances or 
        communications by a former covered legislative branch official 
        are any Member, officer, or employee of either House of 
        Congress, and any employee of any other legislative office of 
        the Congress.
            ``(3) Covered legislative branch official.--For purposes of 
        paragraphs (1) and (2), the term `covered legislative branch 
        official' means any Member, officer, or employee of either 
        House of Congress, and any employee of any other legislative 
        office of the Congress.''; and
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (4).

   TITLE IV--MAINTAINING SEPARATION BETWEEN PERSONAL, CAMPAIGN, AND 
                     OFFICIAL FUNDS AND ACTIVITIES

SEC. 401. PROHIBITING CONVERSION OF LEADERSHIP PAC FUNDS TO PERSONAL 
              USE.

    (a) Prohibition.--Section 313(b)(2) of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 439a(b)(2)) is amended by inserting 
after ``subsection (a)'' the following: ``or funds of a leadership PAC 
described in paragraph (3)''.
    (b) Leadership PAC Defined.--Section 313(b) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
439a(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Leadership pac defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        `leadership PAC' means a political committee which is directly 
        or indirectly established, maintained, or controlled by a 
        candidate for election for Federal office or an individual 
        holding Federal office but is not an authorized committee of 
        the candidate or individual, except that such term does not 
        include any political committee of a political party.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to elections occurring after December 2007.

SEC. 402. PROHIBITING PAYMENT OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY 
              MEMBERS OF CANDIDATES.

    (a) Prohibition.--Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 439a) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(c) Restrictions on Payments to Spouses and Immediate Family 
Members.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this Act, an authorized committee of a candidate and a 
        leadership PAC of a candidate or individual holding Federal 
        office may not make any payment to the spouse or any immediate 
        family member of the candidate or individual (as the case may 
        be) for services provided to the committee or leadership PAC.
            ``(2) Exception for nominal reimbursements.--Paragraph (1) 
        does not apply to nominal amounts paid to reimburse a spouse or 
        immediate family member for supplies and equipment used by the 
        committee or leadership PAC involved, so long as the total 
        amount paid by the committee or leadership PAC for all such 
        reimbursements during a calendar year does not exceed $500.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `immediate family member' means the 
                son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, son-in-law, 
                daughter-in-law, mother, father, stepmother, 
                stepfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother, 
                sister, stepbrother, or stepsister of the candidate or 
                individual involved; and
                    ``(B) the term `leadership PAC' has the meaning 
                given such term in subsection (b)(3).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 313(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
439a(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``for otherwise'' and inserting 
``subject to subsection (c), for otherwise''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to elections occurring after December 2007.

SEC. 403. PROHIBITING INVOLVEMENT OF LOBBYISTS IN ADMINISTRATION OF 
              CERTAIN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES.

    (a) Prohibitions.--Section 302 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection:
    ``(j) Prohibiting Involvement of Lobbyists in Administration of 
Certain Political Committees.--
            ``(1) Involvement in administration or direction.--A 
        registered lobbyist may not serve as the treasurer or any other 
        officer or director of a political committee that is an 
        authorized committee, leadership PAC, or political committee of 
        a political party.
            ``(2) Exception for lobbyists as candidates.--In the case 
        of a registered lobbyist who is a candidate for election for 
        Federal office, paragraph (1) shall not apply to an authorized 
        committee or leadership PAC of the registered lobbyist.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `leadership PAC' has the meaning 
                given such term in section 313(b)(3); and
                    ``(B) the term `registered lobbyist' means a 
                lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
                of 1995 or any successor statute.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to elections occurring after December 2007.

SEC. 404. PROHIBITING OFFICIAL CONTACT BY STAFF WITH LOBBYIST WHO IS A 
              SPOUSE OR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER OF MEMBER.

    (a) House.--Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating clause 14 as clause 15; and
            (2) by inserting after clause 13 the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``14. (a) If a Member's spouse or immediate family member is a 
registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or is 
employed or retained by such a registered lobbyist for the purpose of 
influencing legislation, the Member shall prohibit all staff employed 
by that Member (including staff in personal, committee and leadership 
offices) from having any official contact with the Member's spouse or 
immediate family member.
    ``(b) In this paragraph, the term `immediate family member' means 
the son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 
mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law, 
brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister of the Member.''.
    (b) Senate.--Rule XXXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (12) as 
        paragraphs (11) through (13); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(10)(a) If a Member's spouse or immediate family member is a 
registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or is 
employed or retained by such a registered lobbyist for the purpose of 
influencing legislation, the Member shall prohibit all staff employed 
by that Member (including staff in personal, committee and leadership 
offices) from having any official contact with the Member's spouse or 
immediate family member.
    ``(b) In this paragraph, the term `immediate family member' means 
the son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, 
mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law, 
brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister of the Member.''.
    (c) Sense of Congress Regarding Lobbying by Immediate Family 
Members.--It is 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.
                                 <all>