1.The table of contents
for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
TITLE I—Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of
2007
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Out of scope matters in conference
reports.
Sec. 103. Earmarks.
Sec. 104. Availability of conference reports on the
Internet.
Sec. 105. Elimination of floor privileges for former Members,
Senate officers, and Speakers of the House who are lobbyists or seek financial
gain.
Sec. 106. Ban on gifts from lobbyists.
Sec. 107. Travel restrictions and disclosure.
Sec. 108. Post employment restrictions.
Sec. 109. Public disclosure by Members of Congress of
employment negotiations.
Sec. 110. Prohibit official contact with spouse or immediate
family member of Member who is a registered lobbyist.
Sec. 111. Influencing hiring decisions.
Sec. 112. Sense of the Senate that any applicable restrictions
on Congressional branch employees should apply to the Executive and Judicial
branches.
Sec. 113. Amounts of COLA adjustments not paid to certain
Members of Congress.
Sec. 114. Requirement of notice of intent to
proceed.
Sec. 115. Effective date.
TITLE II—Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of
2007
Sec. 201. Short title.
Subtitle A—Enhancing lobbying disclosure
Sec. 211. Quarterly filing of lobbying disclosure
reports.
Sec. 212. Annual report on contributions.
Sec. 213. Public database of lobbying disclosure
information.
Sec. 214. Disclosure by registered lobbyists of all past
executive and Congressional employment.
Sec. 215. Disclosure of lobbyist travel and
payments.
Sec. 216. Increased penalty for failure to comply with lobbying
disclosure requirements.
Sec. 217. Disclosure of lobbying activities by certain
coalitions and associations.
Sec. 218. Disclosure of enforcement for
noncompliance.
Sec. 219. Electronic filing of lobbying disclosure
reports.
Sec. 220. Disclosure of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots
Lobbying.
Sec. 221. Electronic filing and public database for lobbyists
for foreign governments.
Sec. 222. Effective date.
Subtitle B—Oversight of ethics and lobbying
Sec. 231. Comptroller General audit and annual
report.
Sec. 232. Mandatory Senate ethics training for Members and
staff.
Sec. 233. Sense of the Senate regarding self-regulation within
the Lobbying community.
Sec. 234. Annual ethics committees reports.
Subtitle C—Slowing the revolving door
Sec. 241. Amendments to restrictions on former officers,
employees, and elected officials of the executive and legislative
branches.
Subtitle D—Ban on provision of gifts or travel by lobbyists in
violation of the rules of congress
Sec. 251. Prohibition on provision of gifts or travel by
registered lobbyists to Members of Congress and to Congressional
employees.
Subtitle E—Commission To Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act
of 2007
Sec. 261. Short title.
Sec. 262. Establishment of commission.
Sec. 263. Purposes.
Sec. 264. Composition of commission.
Sec. 265. Functions of Commission.
Sec. 266. Powers of Commission.
Sec. 267. Administration.
Sec. 268. Security clearances for Commission Members and
staff.
Sec. 269. Commission reports; termination.
Sec. 270. Funding.
<enum>I</enum><header>Legislative
Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007</header>
<section id="ID4824005F9CD140A9AE06B6E0FEE8FBAA"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited
as the <quote>Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of
2007</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="IDDD3F92A4B4A94DF4988E391A1C8CBEA8"><enum>102.</enum><header>Out of scope
matters in conference reports</header>
<subsection id="IDF657407A0753405F955A8FC9986DBC68"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>A point of order may be made by any Senator against
consideration of a conference report that includes any matter not committed to
the conferees by either House. The point of order shall be made and voted on
separately for each item in violation of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID5D607CA33C1E4A3BB405795DAE3848D1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disposition</header><text>If
the point of order against a conference report under subsection (a) is
sustained, then—</text>
<paragraph id="ID39BD3CD7BAF6497CA8AB3ECE18909D76"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the matter in
such conference report shall be deemed to have been struck;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3CF22247695B485391E3DFEF44D72951"><enum>(2)</enum><text>when all other
points of order under this section have been disposed of—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID697D3D859B28481DAD5E267ED1368F1A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Senate shall
proceed to consider the question of whether the Senate should recede from its
amendment to the House bill, or its disagreement to the amendment of the House,
and concur with a further amendment, which further amendment shall consist of
only that portion of the conference report not deemed to have been
struck;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE75B85DA2A9E4092B83AB0E0FDB71595"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the question
shall be debatable; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF4B3265F63A04E98A97BD78F5EDCCADE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>no further
amendment shall be in order; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID239CEF060B694B19A5F74D44C3110AF1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>if the Senate
agrees to the amendment, then the bill and the Senate amendment thereto shall
be returned to the House for its concurrence in the amendment of the
Senate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID036F1D5BD71D460ABAF49726E882051A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Supermajority
Waiver and Appeal</header><text>This section may be waived or suspended in the
Senate only by an affirmative vote of <fraction>3/5</fraction> of the Members,
duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of <fraction>3/5</fraction> of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the Senate
to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised
under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID7CB5207B0D714BB1B8F3D7F37B0DE272"><enum>103.</enum><header>Earmarks</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Standing Rules of the Senate are amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDA76D37B005F4489E894F6DD2B793259D" style="USC">
<appropriations-major id="id017984BD07E94C2BB1320012B16520AF"><header>RULE XLIV
</header>
</appropriations-major><appropriations-small id="id57D1667EEE1D4ED78037F569ED6A8393"><header>EARMARKS</header>
<subsection id="id80585CD7FCA54699B8727BF3D3BA469B"><enum>1.</enum><text>In this
rule—</text>
<paragraph id="IDF25C164AD24C48698290BAB0F8D7EFCD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term
<term>earmark</term> means a provision that specifies the identity of a
non-Federal entity to receive assistance and the amount of the assistance;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6C549D98824B4558996117CB94BEAE13"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>assistance</term> means budget authority, contract authority, loan
authority, and other expenditures, and tax expenditures or other revenue
items.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id75B7B7CD2E154A1B8A1E276E0E08FAEF"><enum>2.</enum><text>It shall not be in
order to consider any Senate bill or Senate amendment or conference report on
any bill, including an appropriations bill, a revenue bill, and an authorizing
bill, unless a list of—</text>
<paragraph id="IDBC69380879244B9CB8C31738F8B325C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>all earmarks in
such measure;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDEAD64951E7AB4E43922FC4D5B61B9A0A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an identification
of the Member or Members who proposed the earmark; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID091274A3087C4834990734C91360A241"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an explanation of
the essential governmental purpose for the earmark;</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">is
available along with any joint statement of managers associated with the
measure to all Members and made available on the Internet to the general public
for at least 48 hours before its
consideration.</continuation-text></subsection></appropriations-small><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="IDE7DF1334D4DA4CC588A04BFAB404955D"><enum>104.</enum><header>Availability
of conference reports on the Internet</header>
<subsection id="IDA8479EAE21F2427EB497C16C5601D92C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header>
<paragraph id="IDE730F1F1AAAB4B27A1D65E8983664ADE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text>Rule
XXVIII of all the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID08C0BA9C66364379855DA72ABD098FC9" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDA0DABEB5788F40D29082A19496DD2B38"><enum></enum><text>7. It shall
not be in order to consider a conference report unless such report is available
to all Members and made available to the general public by means of the
Internet for at least 48 hours before its
consideration.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID97F43DDF567C4AF284EF1E9F0DCFEC7C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>This subsection shall take effect 60 days after the date of
enactment of this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID167938C42E7D4372BB7F612DDAE2AD96"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>Not
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary of
the Senate, in consultation with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the
Government Printing Office, and the Committee on Rules and Administration,
shall develop a website capable of complying with the requirements of paragraph
7 of rule XXVIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, as added by subsection
(a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDDE0C0C9BDE8745CD884B18E372336E80"><enum>105.</enum><header>Elimination of
floor privileges for former Members, Senate officers, and Speakers of the House
who are lobbyists or seek financial gain</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules of the
Senate is amended by—</text>
<paragraph id="ID0820ECD86E1747D08C3BDCF6FC932D5A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>inserting
<quote>1.</quote> before <quote>Other</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID95C5B3ED54B54269BC29F8F0A2DA89F7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting after
<quote>Ex-Senators and Senators elect</quote> the following: <quote>, except as
provided in paragraph 2</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2D7B1B724DB34370B9B5FDC05B0F34AB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>inserting after
<quote>Ex-Secretaries and ex-Sergeants at Arms of the Senate</quote> the
following: <quote>, except as provided in paragraph 2</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDB6510E6CE9D49E9AEB9DD73E52C4A0A"><enum>(4)</enum><text>inserting after
<quote>Ex-Speakers of the House of Representatives</quote> the following:
<quote>, except as provided in paragraph 2</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC4B13B7A1209470BB85E72CCAAF67206"><enum>(5)</enum><text>adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDB3F97D7B2AEF45A1B385B641AE6F9C88" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDED249A550CF04A55B8836957116524FD"><enum></enum><text>2. (a) The
floor privilege provided in paragraph 1 shall not apply to an individual
covered by this paragraph who is—</text>
<paragraph id="IDC94A14A25F8D47ACAB89A469A4CBBA3B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a registered
lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID83E800073AAA4FCFA2BA0FA203A7D6AF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is in the employ
of or represents any party or organization for the purpose of influencing,
directly, or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative
proposal.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDE2E797E3B35F45D6968C593FD466718C"><enum>(b)</enum><text>The Committee on
Rules and Administration may promulgate regulations to allow individuals
covered by this paragraph floor privileges for ceremonial functions and events
designated by the Majority Leader and the Minority
Leader.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID5D94F63CAE96428CBB634554BA5DA989"><enum>106.</enum><header>Ban on gifts
from lobbyists</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Paragraph
1(a)(2) of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by—</text>
<paragraph id="IDACC9936BF15F4D29ABC4AB302A26F63D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>inserting
<quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(2)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8B0518F22444471D90D8DD587C3AD485"><enum>(2)</enum><text>adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID4CE36AF56592400B84AF82C7088C3136" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="ID896D182C42EF4DCD8C67A169612F72B5" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>This clause shall not apply to a gift
from a registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign
principal.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="IDCB30983BEB3049229F455E6AF5B49D80"><enum>107.</enum><header>Travel
restrictions and disclosure</header>
<subsection id="ID49740EC8AF914D219E035A5A1623B407"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Paragraph 2 of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the
Senate is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDD9D05B79FB594FF996303B3EAE0EE7F1" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID73F3AC69F0F248B58BFB7FCB4126EAB6"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID4A55703D832541CCAAE0344F6C67F84A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Before a Member,
officer, or employee may accept transportation or lodging otherwise permissible
under this paragraph from any person, other than a governmental entity, such
Member, officer, or employee shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID77BCA76F32C74C5D89E4A9C137EA6CB2" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>obtain a written certification from
such person (and provide a copy of such certification to the Select Committee
on Ethics) that—</text>
<clause id="ID83EDE2C61F6D4A79B5E2E0FA52581594"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the trip was not financed in whole,
or in part, by a registered lobbyist or foreign agent;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDDE37A2359F274AE8B3E1A14551D3D61C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the person did not accept,
directly or indirectly, funds from a registered lobbyist or foreign agent
specifically earmarked for the purpose of financing the travel expenses;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDC1B977AA03214A04B9AC1508ED151FC4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the trip was not planned,
organized, or arranged by or at the request of a registered lobbyist or foreign
agent; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID9B7F975E823C40EEA8898CDB45917A6C"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>registered lobbyists will not
participate in or attend the trip;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFB58A2AB3D52491BBCC0510383054F4B" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide the Select Committee on Ethics
(in the case of an employee, from the supervising Member or officer), in
writing—</text>
<clause id="ID9BB300F9B7D048508EE941F008BC186C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a detailed itinerary of the trip;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDFCFA21387AAD44AA94307860FE81CC86"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a determination that the
trip—</text>
<subclause id="IDCB5AAC0F795645C1AEBC1999B6551402"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is primarily educational (either for the
invited person or for the organization sponsoring the trip);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID13270BA6B8534F35B7BE2A021C99781C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>is consistent with the official duties
of the Member, officer, or employee;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID2E40E03741FE4D8EA53E4A24BBF144E8"><enum>(III)</enum><text>does not create an appearance of use of
public office for private gain; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDDBFED70414974041945E07FEC2E6DEE1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has a minimal or no recreational
component; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDEB10A18763BA42D8982A4DF3C6776A1D" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>obtain written approval of the trip
from the Select Committee on Ethics.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1F9B2A5060214151AD22140CC10EA11B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Not later than 30 days after
completion of travel, approved under this subparagraph, the Member, officer, or
employee shall file with the Select Committee on Ethics and the Secretary of
the Senate a description of meetings and events attended during such travel and
the names of any registered lobbyist who accompanied the Member, officer, or
employee during the travel, except when disclosure of such information is
deemed by the Member or supervisor under whose direct supervision the employee
is employed to jeopardize the safety of an individual or adversely affect
national security. Such information shall also be posted on the Member’s
official website not later than 30 days after the completion of the travel,
except when disclosure of such information is deemed by the Member to
jeopardize the safety of an individual or adversely affect national
security.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7831A0F634444CD4BDF86500F7789306"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disclosure of
noncommercial air travel</header>
<paragraph id="IDD138F7C6E5C54FFE8E9C3F7CA6CB28A6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Rules</header><text>Paragraph
2 of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended by subsection
(a), is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID024C5ED2B2C44790A7869676E49191F3" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDE06D2DED028A4E4EBF6E8C1D1FA62A5F"><enum>(g)</enum><text>A Member,
officer, or employee of the Senate shall—</text>
<paragraph id="IDD6C196C0884E40D6802ED7A76F954C8C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>disclose a flight
on an aircraft that is not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration to
operate for compensation or hire, excluding a flight on an aircraft owned,
operated, or leased by a governmental entity, taken in connection with the
duties of the Member, officer, or employee as an officeholder or Senate officer
or employee; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID230ADA5FE2B24268885A2C72D8D4E78F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to
the flight, file a report with the Secretary of the Senate, including the date,
destination, and owner or lessee of the aircraft, the purpose of the trip, and
the persons on the trip, except for any person flying the
aircraft.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID562CBB6EC6FF44DB94617D077CC09CAF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>FECA</header><text>Section
304(b) of the <act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971</act-name> (2 U.S.C. 434(b)) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDA6C134EC3850480BB0FBED8F5AA9CAE3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>and</quote> at the end of paragraph (7);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDC8B4DFA9DD424464A0CBF894E8D3E9BB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the
period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6B7CDE2C2F084127B8FD95EF076D1842"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID4210E94A56E0417A87E8BE6BCE91CDD1" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDE04D717AC5AF415D8E9A68D8952E1E9C"><enum>(9)</enum><text>in the case of a
principal campaign committee of a candidate (other than a candidate for
election to the office of President or Vice President), any flight taken by the
candidate (other than a flight designated to transport the President, Vice
President, or a candidate for election to the office of President or Vice
President) during the reporting period on an aircraft that is not licensed by
the Federal Aviation Administration to operate for compensation or hire,
together with the following information:</text>
<subparagraph id="IDB671E498AAD14192AA75934A8393C626"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The date of the
flight.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID18EFBE025E924C2F8AE19AB91729CA1C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The destination
of the flight.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID333C1BB5F6D345038CDBA49D0F2C2A60"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The owner or
lessee of the aircraft.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0650B17F49FA4F76A265D85234A6D544"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The purpose of
the flight.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0F05C72EB47A425AAE0B8E1B6D6DC4BE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The persons on
the flight, except for any person flying the
aircraft.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID9290139355AC40DC81438B7A4760F0B2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public
Availability</header><text>Paragraph 2(e) of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of
the Senate is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDDF0DEC47D2ED410DBD4820D8A329E21A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID32A77898791B48509AE60BB069732778"><enum>(e)</enum><text>The Secretary of
the Senate shall make available to the public all disclosures filed pursuant to
subparagraphs (f) and (g) as soon as possible after they are received and such
matters shall be posted on the Member’s official website but no later than 30
days after the trip or
flight.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="IDD6A65FAA92DB4E01B9627DAE1B5EB381"><enum>108.</enum><header>Post
employment restrictions</header>
<subsection id="IDEE2E0D5B34EA4C2DBD49341820300B95"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Paragraph 9 of rule XXXVII of the Standing Rules of the
Senate is amended by—</text>
<paragraph id="IDB49FB24DAD884F9B8D2A7F802D6C7C9C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>designating the
first sentence as subparagraph (a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID69BEF3D388EA4828A602C4357D81DBA4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>designating the
second sentence as subparagraph (b); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7365BA7C3E2B4CDEBCBFB32F45242E8D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDC3C53DEA31DF47A59A5C769FD978C258" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID0C1EF4961E5642EA9D78176345B16756"><enum>(c)</enum><text>If an employee on
the staff of a Member or on the staff of a committee whose rate of pay is equal
to or greater than 75 percent of the rate of pay of a Member and employed at
such rate for more than 60 days in a calendar year, upon leaving that position,
becomes 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, such employee may not lobby any Member, officer, or
employee of the Senate for a period of 1 year after leaving that
position.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID60D0BC729E5F4F1587295C517EECCEE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
Date</header><text>This section shall take effect 60 days after the date of
enactment of this title.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID7E595BF03E0C4A339BB9063F64FEA23E"><enum>109.</enum><header>Public
disclosure by Members of Congress of employment negotiations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Rule XXXVII of the Standing Rules of the
Senate is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID389BEDB3917442ED9551CD70A0A2E062" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID5F3793487A6D473593F8F569617FC4F5"><enum></enum><text>14. A Member
shall not directly negotiate or have any arrangement concerning prospective
private employment until after the election for his or her successor has been
held, unless such Member files a statement with the Secretary of the Senate,
for public disclosure, regarding such negotiations or arrangements within 3
business days after the commencement of such negotiation or arrangement,
including the name of the private entity or entities involved in such
negotiations or arrangements, the date such negotiations or arrangements
commenced, and must be signed by the
Member.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="ID9BD2C8B80C484D1FB570FD82841F9349"><enum>110.</enum><header>Prohibit
official contact with spouse or immediate family member of Member who is a
registered lobbyist</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Rule
XXXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by—</text>
<paragraph id="ID250FF74E388E4A5BAB945D06C3AAEB07"><enum>(1)</enum><text>redesignating
paragraphs 10 through 12 as paragraphs 11 through 13, respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID57F62369A788456DAFC7CD6DCC1B81D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting after
paragraph 9, the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID8F93B3A9BD76422985C6AF657E364676" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID57D2BEA2C6B143E29BF39339DC73AE81"><enum></enum><text>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.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID21902DA9F4D44C26AF557B59A8D51CB5"><enum>(b)</enum><text>In this
paragraph, the term <term>immediate family member</term> 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.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID5AB151E0C62943B69353C62850007128"><enum>111.</enum><header>Influencing
hiring decisions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Rule XLIII of
the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID69873FB8354548E2A2DCDA3D59BA026C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDF239D37FA0874F5B873B2F8EDFB73027"><enum></enum><text>6. No Member
shall, with the intent to influence on the basis of partisan political
affiliation an employment decision or employment practice of any private
entity—</text>
<paragraph id="IDDC825DDEE32B4809AEE4999543B97673"><enum>(1)</enum><text>take or withhold,
or offer or threaten to take or withhold, an official act; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID67A49C76DA8F4B139214D7210E0F1DAE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>influence, or
offer or threaten to influence the official act of
another.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="ID3ABB58BE3D9E40108CFCFBA8A8628D19"><enum>112.</enum><header>Sense of the
Senate that any applicable restrictions on Congressional branch employees
should apply to the Executive and Judicial branches</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of the Senate that any
applicable restrictions on Congressional branch employees in this title should
apply to the Executive and Judicial branches.</text>
</section><section id="ID1CC4543993DC4943985A5D966D15B7DC"><enum>113.</enum><header>Amounts of
COLA adjustments not paid to certain Members of Congress</header>
<subsection id="ID835828260741404B8E97C608751506EC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any adjustment under section 601(a) of the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) (relating to the cost of living
adjustments for Members of Congress) shall not be paid to any Member of
Congress who voted for any amendment (or against the tabling of any amendment)
that provided that such adjustment would not be made.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDDF34BA84D04D4351AB36D885CA2BC032"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deposit in
Treasury</header><text>Any amount not paid to a Member of Congress under
subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the Treasury for deposit in the
appropriations account under the subheading <quote><header-in-text>medical
services</header-in-text></quote> under the heading
<quote><header-in-text>Veterans Health
Administration</header-in-text></quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID045240B2AD074FD9BCDE7672E50DE2AB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The
salary of any Member of Congress to whom subsection (a) applies shall be deemed
to be the salary in effect after the application of that subsection, except
that for purposes of determining any benefit (including any retirement or
insurance benefit), the salary of that Member of Congress shall be deemed to be
the salary that Member of Congress would have received, but for that
subsection.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID1222F384B4394F6B876A69AB54CFFE10"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>This section shall take effect on the first day of the first
applicable pay period beginning on or after February 1, 2008.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDDF74602036DF454A85FEB3FC3AEDB0B9"><enum>114.</enum><header>Requirement of
notice of intent to proceed</header>
<subsection id="ID68672581C48F4B7CBFA8E5BF31F96D39"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>The majority and minority leaders of the Senate or their
designees shall recognize a notice of intent of a Senator who is a member of
their caucus to object to proceeding to a measure or matter only if the
Senator—</text>
<paragraph id="IDBE95A9B518BD4817AD171E518D7F516B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>submits the
notice of intent in writing to the appropriate leader or their designee;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID91560882A75A4698A4107D7F37410D74"><enum>(2)</enum><text>within 3 session
days after the submission under paragraph (1), submits for inclusion in the
Congressional Record and in the applicable calendar section described in
subsection (b) the following notice:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDDEB8C3390226421A95DFCBE057C7143F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID299E0E69B653444F9E6DAA5D6AB1CD05"><enum></enum><text>I, Senator
__, intend to object to proceeding to __, dated
__.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID194F21C7DFB543A3ACF18CF3A244E06E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Calendar</header><text>The
Secretary of the Senate shall establish for both the Senate Calendar of
Business and the Senate Executive Calendar a separate section entitled
<quote>Notices of Intent to Object to Proceeding</quote>. Each section shall
include the name of each Senator filing a notice under subsection (a)(2), the
measure or matter covered by the calendar that the Senator objects to, and the
date the objection was filed.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDDC2AAA10D1F6451E8472A225CF531BF9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Removal</header><text>A
Senator may have an item with respect to the Senator removed from a calendar to
which it was added under subsection (b) by submitting for inclusion in the
Congressional Record the following notice:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID0557121210A8486A911750AABF78B16B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDE6E49DED9DC0428E979BE7632A5BF8A5"><enum></enum><text>I, Senator
__, do not object to proceeding to __, dated
__.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="ID2F0D908FB3174D2E8C2D3F3F78381B03"><enum>115.</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Except as otherwise
provided in this title, this title shall take effect on the date of enactment
of this title.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Lobbying
Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007</header>
<section id="ID0C5D26B757344D338F6C96428B467D4B"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited
as the <quote>Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of
2007</quote>.</text>
</section><subtitle id="ID674FA41DE8874180BD85EAF6B3F8ED54"><enum>A</enum><header>Enhancing
lobbying disclosure</header>
<section id="ID3DF4A1926C154BBDA0D93E99370607EB"><enum>211.</enum><header>Quarterly
filing of lobbying disclosure reports</header>
<subsection id="ID0E434DA6977E47229FBB7804844E452E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Quarterly
filing required</header><text>Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
(in this title referred to as the <quote>Act</quote>) (2 U.S.C. 1604) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID7CCC0D0296C6441084C8DF5CEC761B0E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8D63FFF9EC244097B39A3F788A421277"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the subsection
heading, by striking <quote>Semiannual</quote> and inserting
<quote>Quarterly</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1B1D62B024C54C0096DEB588DD063731"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>the semiannual period</quote> and all that follows through <quote>July
of each year</quote> and inserting <quote>the quarterly period beginning on the
20th day of January, April, July, and October of each year or on the first
business day after the 20th day if that day is not a business day</quote>;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDF33EEE145E03445AB5C65DA0F8EC3783"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such semiannual period</quote> and inserting <quote>such quarterly
period</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID125D176F99F14F01984C424E727207A6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID226CD2B06AF94F3EB21BFDC9EA00B042"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>semiannual report</quote> and
inserting <quote>quarterly report</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE3B9B658C9124F58BD8C44AFA23DBFC1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>semiannual filing period</quote> and inserting
<quote>quarterly period</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9D9F0F3D33DD445389100A87C025945A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking <quote>semiannual period</quote> and inserting <quote>quarterly
period</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD941C95040C04E6C9182B8631B59CE57"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (4),
by striking <quote>semiannual filing period</quote> and inserting
<quote>quarterly period</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID57B423D7A957437093DD36D6C0084995"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<paragraph id="ID16AE5F380937455FB7D37F7186C7086C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>Section
3(10) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended by striking <quote>six month
period</quote> and inserting <quote>three-month period</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID50BBA8B405F34D5E8C7F7E4B90DF8B8C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Registration</header><text>Section
4 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDE0D6A48C081A45E984ABBFE2CE9438BF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)(3)(A), by striking <quote>semiannual period</quote> and inserting
<quote>quarterly period</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFCBB2B3B2638406F886F75C573C77DB9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)(3)(A), by striking <quote>semiannual period</quote> and inserting
<quote>quarterly period</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID377074C441174A54AF521A80564C82EA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Enforcement</header><text>Section
6(a)(6) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1605(6)) is amended by striking <quote>semiannual
period</quote> and inserting <quote>quarterly period</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID785428BD0C4541BD885F07AD08CDA505"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Estimates</header><text>Section
15 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1610) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID3E1EE9BFAC5B43F1AA492B9E4C428FB9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)(1), by striking <quote>semiannual period</quote> and inserting
<quote>quarterly period</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2CBA4C45B0194FAAA3D74E7239C3BDB6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)(1), by striking <quote>semiannual period</quote> and inserting
<quote>quarterly period</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID12A715971F9A4856B2B8714F33F336B3"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Dollar
amounts</header>
<subparagraph id="ID3F73E4310AFC4E1C84358938583B3B91"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Registration</header><text>Section
4 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended—</text>
<clause id="ID4117F9B596E8409DA1E1451DFBB2EB3D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
subsection (a)(3)(A)(i), by striking <quote>$5,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$2,500</quote>;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID5BB92CE0B52644FB972D235C7375E081"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii), by striking <quote>$20,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$10,000</quote>;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID80FF981B706F4569BDB5228A1B7A72F8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)(3)(A), by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$5,000</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID6973662871DD46B6AA9683BBCFD15150"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in
subsection (b)(4), by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$5,000</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3E18EE7E6DA64695BBC107A75220707C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Section
5 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended—</text>
<clause id="IDC2635444143E48BCB81F0998DB7F9F9F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
subsection (c)(1), by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and
<quote>$20,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$5,000</quote> and
<quote>$10,000</quote>, respectively; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID58D2DD45CA0F40D18AED190ECA89C26B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
subsection (c)(2), by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> both places such term
appears and inserting <quote>$5,000</quote>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID9F90AFFBD10B4A0DB4987A8AC4A28D66"><enum>212.</enum><header>Annual report
on contributions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5 of
the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID16DAC8DD8D3741FB9E56C1E5A086C68C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID1D9E16BCBAB841FBB5995238F227CEB4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Annual Report
on Contributions</header><text>Not later than 45 days after the end of the
quarterly period beginning on the first day of October of each year referred to
in subsection (a), a lobbyist registered under section 4(a)(1), or an employee
who is a lobbyist of an organization registered under section 4(a)(2), shall
file a report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives containing—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3DD17ED0095B4620A4628530166C6B65"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the name of the
lobbyist;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID54C27FB59BC84A9FB13D9E565DE1CCBE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the employer of
the lobbyist;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID303BDCCA1102451B91EDE2CED223D8C5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the name of each
Federal candidate or officeholder, leadership PAC, or political party
committee, to whom a contribution equal to or exceeding $200 was made within
the past year, and the date and amount of such contribution; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID833F054B670D4EC98A577CAAED4A5B1E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the name of each
Federal candidate or officeholder, leadership PAC, or political party committee
for whom a fundraising event was hosted, co-hosted, or otherwise sponsored,
within the past year, and the date and location of the
event.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="ID2693510344544CDB9A6C272EA54813BB"><enum>213.</enum><header>Public
database of lobbying disclosure information</header>
<subsection id="ID888FF73A176A40218F12A3A7246454D2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Database
required</header><text>Section 6 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1605) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDDBA69AC79DE64C7EBC9AB4FDF9E37F4C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (7),
by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDB2E7D0CFE9B24F53AF73497561BFF9AD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (8),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC75FBB3DC069464AA4F7AD8052FE9E50"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID894A522092CC4C8F8A1B66767FAC9FED" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID81A1B223F7144D05A099B8564FC4A3CA"><enum>(9)</enum><text>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—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID019B8F80F2E94217B9F226F8A205EE7E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes the
information contained in registrations and reports filed under this Act;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID272DADAE2E4F485CA66946279D2EFA7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>directly links
the information it contains to the information disclosed in reports filed with
the Federal Election Commission under section 304 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
(2 U.S.C. 434); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6802511C19DD44C18D7DBA4625826938"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is searchable and
sortable, at a minimum, by each of the categories of information described in
section 4(b) or
5(b).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID7BB1AAA742C74A43AEBB0D866FDD789D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of
reports</header><text>Section 6(a)(4) of the Act is amended by inserting before
the semicolon the following: <quote>and, in the case of a report filed in
electronic form under section 5(e), shall make such report available for public
inspection over the Internet not more than 48 hours after the report is
filed</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID86C2DD4ABD7F4C8EB7D842A5BB3ED54D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such
sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (9) of section 6(a) of the Act,
as added by subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID43DDF20CCB5E47E88B8FEC64EA418F33"><enum>214.</enum><header>Disclosure by
registered lobbyists of all past executive and Congressional
employment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(b)(6) of
the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended by striking <quote>or a covered legislative
branch official</quote> and all that follows through <quote>as a lobbyist on
behalf of the client,</quote> and inserting <quote>or a covered legislative
branch official,</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID5B3B09115BFD4874B94C39F193BAFE07"><enum>215.</enum><header>Disclosure of
lobbyist travel and payments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(b))
is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID7DC9179CCD794443AC359FDD58D4A758"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID814F968852DA421ABA3D059C53B226C7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4),
by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE69026CF3FBB4C5B91FC27ED164F0412"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID354B6ECC838A4F89B0A7D197F5BBA568" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDB016427DC594494C925E28C5476ECCB0"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the name of each
covered legislative branch official or covered executive branch official for
whom the registrant provided, or directed or arranged to be provided, or the
employee listed as a lobbyist directed or arranged to be provided, any payment
or reimbursements for travel and related expenses in connection with the duties
of such covered official, including for each such official—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID39ECAE272DDD4EC3B5C7A08F9545FD85"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an itemization of
the payments or reimbursements provided to finance the travel and related
expenses and to whom the payments or reimbursements were made, including any
payment or reimbursement made with the express or implied understanding or
agreement that such funds will be used for travel and related expenses;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9E92B730DCD54236AA6DD7127A0855E5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the purpose and
final itinerary of the trip, including a description of all meetings, tours,
events, and outings attended;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA3E6FC53081340EFBDEE32DFA97CB2FC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the names of any
registrant or individual employed by the registrant who traveled on any such
trip;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID03C4C53EFD4D4E6F8DC59E6611214E7D"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the identity of
the listed sponsor or sponsors of travel; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDED328EC626F74A50B07C72D2D09E647C"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the identity of
any person or entity, other than the listed sponsor or sponsors of the travel,
which directly or indirectly provided for payment of travel and related
expenses at the request or suggestion of the registrant or the employee;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDA494FB379F8A4A10A4BD7E8E6E1F21C5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the date,
recipient, and amount of funds contributed or disbursed by, or arranged by, a
registrant or employee listed as a lobbyist—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDDF882F66EFBD44B297BD30947574B117"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to pay the costs
of an event to honor or recognize a covered legislative branch official or
covered executive branch official;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD1F64E917E7947679EC75B897B65A297"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to, or on behalf
of, an entity that is named for a covered legislative branch official or
covered executive branch official, or to a person or entity in recognition of
such official;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDFFA594FE3702430E828CE327102959B7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to an entity
established, financed, maintained, or controlled by a covered legislative
branch official or covered executive branch official, or an entity designated
by such official; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD45AAFA8739D409CA1E4E7202DD6C97A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to pay the costs
of a meeting, retreat, conference or other similar event held by, or for the
benefit of, 1 or more covered legislative branch officials or covered executive
branch officials;</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">except
that this paragraph shall not apply to any payment or reimbursement made from
funds required to be reported under section 304 of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434); and</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="ID713957DEA76F49319D7C5EFCA3462360"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the date,
recipient, and amount of any gift (that under the rules of the House of
Representatives or Senate counts towards the one hundred dollar cumulative
annual limit described in such rules) valued in excess of $20 given by a
registrant or employee listed as a lobbyist to a covered legislative branch
official or covered executive branch official;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID2CF67C32480748C9BD246F2B848C303A"><enum>(8)</enum><text>for each client,
immediately after listing the client, an identification of whether the client
is a public entity, including a State or local government or a department,
agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality controlled by a
State or local government, or a private entity.</text>
</paragraph><quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="section">For purposes
of paragraph (7), the term <quote>gift</quote> means a gratuity, favor,
discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having
monetary value. The term includes gifts of services, training, transportation,
lodging, and meals, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment
in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred. Information
required by paragraph (5) shall be disclosed as provided in this Act not later
than 30 days after the
travel.</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID89E31235246C4ECBBE02CB855B562C5E"><enum>216.</enum><header>Increased
penalty for failure to comply with lobbying disclosure
requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the
Act (2 U.S.C. 1606) is amended by striking <quote>$50,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$100,000</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="IDF612F80B5FAF4F8EB7EFFA0F9EF304EA"><enum>217.</enum><header>Disclosure of
lobbying activities by certain coalitions and associations</header>
<subsection id="ID937DB87459564DD3A6BC592B53FA7727"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603(b)(3)(B)) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID299A62CEF2734E83AD36241F99B9C412" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="ID4EA700B84EBC4097813B1058502706B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>participates in a
substantial way in the planning, supervision or control of such lobbying
activities;</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="IDBE9C91B0FF8344A38B9E540C6103ABB4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>No donor or
Membership list disclosure</header><text>Section 4(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C.
1603(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID8151DA2C416B48B1B12A9790E5AA3FF1" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID14B86B58BFE049968D42AA4A9D845B57"><enum></enum><text>No disclosure
is required under paragraph (3)(B) if it is publicly available knowledge that
the organization that would be identified is affiliated with the client or has
been publicly disclosed to have provided funding to the client, unless the
organization in whole or in major part plans, supervises or controls such
lobbying activities. Nothing in paragraph (3)(B) shall be construed to require
the disclosure of any information about individuals who are members of, or
donors to, an entity treated as a client by this Act or an organization
identified under that
paragraph.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="ID98F0D99569C845F78353F16481D87A30"><enum>218.</enum><header>Disclosure of
enforcement for noncompliance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 6 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1605) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID713BF828765F430F8367E47816075D20"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(a)</quote> before <quote>The Secretary of the Senate</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9B73BC5930FC491FA445EF1782164FB2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (8),
by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDEA4C66FF5CC64FBFB797AC86D86F989A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (9),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3D063AFFBAA44273A9867FA70D20E7E7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>after paragraph
(9), by inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDF2741830E86640638720F8A3B73B3932" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDA6C158A550534120B02123C8C7164E98"><enum>(10)</enum><text>provide to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives the aggregate
number of lobbyists and lobbying firms, separately accounted, referred to the
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia for noncompliance as
required by paragraph (8) on a semi-annual
basis</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDB0EEF1557B45469785E4D47A670AB3ED"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID3409AD2F7F9749E8AC9353C406E6FB3F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID604D875E81194CF3A049BD4942B24599"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement
Report</header><text>The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Government
Reform and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on a
semi-annual basis the aggregate number of enforcement actions taken by the
Attorney’s office under this Act and the amount of fines, if any, by case,
except that such report shall not include the names of individuals or
personally identifiable
information.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID0B9E830678164B9AAE227EE37F1C4896"><enum>219.</enum><header>Electronic
filing of lobbying disclosure reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDB804FA539167464294C293680DC30B6A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="IDC2D07E803E4445B899BE3F5CD2B66BB8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Electronic
filing required</header><text>A report required to be filed under this section
shall be filed in electronic form, in addition to any other form. The Secretary
of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall use the same
electronic software for receipt and recording of filings under this
Act.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="ID0E14009186DA41459648B8E386E1EF16"><enum>220.</enum><header>Disclosure of
paid efforts to stimulate grassroots Lobbying</header>
<subsection id="IDCB177692A5E3443B99D963135F455AF5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>Section
3 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDF2D2B306B1584FFC980C0976EAB2654D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (7),
by adding at the end of the following: <quote>Lobbying activities include paid
efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying, but do not include grassroots
lobbying.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3FD987D36DEA4012AFC607296D678470"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end of the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID1601E641CB1B433DA2F7F3501071932C" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID40FA72FC865346C8AB549044221AF31A"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Grassroots
lobbying</header><text>The term <term>grassroots lobbying</term> means the
voluntary efforts of members of the general public to communicate their own
views on an issue to Federal officials or to encourage other members of the
general public to do the same.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8C85B11CCE7840F684B587215E941F31"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Paid efforts
to stimulate grassroots lobbying</header>
<subparagraph id="IDDCE8C1985BF744598F461EECA15665CB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The term <term>paid efforts to stimulate grassroots
lobbying</term> means any paid attempt in support of lobbying contacts on
behalf of a client to influence the general public or segments thereof to
contact one or more covered legislative or executive branch officials (or
Congress as a whole) to urge such officials (or Congress) to take specific
action with respect to a matter described in section 3(8)(A), except that such
term does not include any communications by an entity directed to its members,
employees, officers, or shareholders.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID56BF3B17FDB64F7E90B20EB1C251CECF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Paid attempt to
influence the general public or segments thereof</header><text>The term
<term>paid attempt to influence the general public or segments thereof</term>
does not include an attempt to influence directed at less than 500 members of
the general public.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4EC7C223AA0040FCB445215C778028EE"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Registrant</header><text>For
purposes of this paragraph, a person or entity is a member of a registrant if
the person or entity—</text>
<clause id="IDC7C34745AE37423D90B353677F95F744"><enum>(i)</enum><text>pays dues or
makes a contribution of more than a nominal amount to the entity;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID92103CF3848A47CB847909B7E531A91B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>makes a
contribution of more than a nominal amount of time to the entity;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDDB6F988D210944848AAE6CF27E21EE92"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>is entitled to
participate in the governance of the entity;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID2148E09C551B46FD8DA87E98216607D3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>is 1 of a
limited number of honorary or life members of the entity; or</text>
</clause><clause id="ID9D22F22878A24B72A49781FDE6EAC9E6"><enum>(v)</enum><text>is an employee,
officer, director or member of the entity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDA8BBDEBC71EF427D8C0FF2E1CFE866E1"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Grassroots
lobbying firm</header><text>The term <term>grassroots lobbying firm</term>
means a person or entity that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID56A344A9E40D4667B047E4D2A45924D8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is retained by 1
or more clients to engage in paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying on
behalf of such clients; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID422090463B034E20B65271E1E88118E4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>receives income
of, or spends or agrees to spend, an aggregate of $25,000 or more for such
efforts in any quarterly
period.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID2EF9E2ACA52B465DACA28282B059C56A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Registration</header><text>Section
4(a) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID1795B19818864FDC8FFB663264D0BEEE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the flush
matter at the end of paragraph (3)(A), by adding at the end the following:
<quote>For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), the term <term>lobbying
activities</term> shall not include paid efforts to stimulate grassroots
lobbying.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5125790520914711A41E16521FB888DF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting
after paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID1125A5255DF741ABB2FBB50F6337BA46" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID82647565F2DA4BAFBBF5C19FCBC665E2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Filing by
grassroots lobbying firms</header><text>Not later than 45 days after a
grassroots lobbying firm first is retained by a client to engage in paid
efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying, such grassroots lobbying firm shall
register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDD83BB80A3E124143B3663F354CFDEE72"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Separate
itemization of paid efforts To stimulate grassroots
lobbying</header><text>Section 5(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDCD9E3AF36CAF415DB1E51406B7053146"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8885B55767DD4EF697DDC3D1486CC237"><enum>(A)</enum><text>inserting after
<quote>total amount of all income</quote> the following: <quote>(including a
separate good faith estimate of the total amount of income relating
specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying and, within that
amount, a good faith estimate of the total amount specifically relating to paid
advertising)</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB534B54DA6C34CCAA4E827A8FA347DBA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>inserting
<quote>or a grassroots lobbying firm</quote> after <quote>lobbying
firm</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID0CD15D955942492F986203E74CD5A120"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4),
by inserting after <quote>total expenses</quote> the following:
<quote>(including a good faith estimate of the total amount of expenses
relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying and,
within that total amount, a good faith estimate of the total amount
specifically relating to paid advertising)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID857177FB3C3D48B6B8A783B6CF42CE6F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID2767BAD5B4F74B2AA48889A2B15B8141" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID1AF5A44ED4B543F5930A6719C7E1AD94"><enum></enum><text>Subparagraphs
(B) and (C) of paragraph (2) shall not apply with respect to reports relating
to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying
activities.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID86FA87F33B414D49872C337D1FC7B38B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Good faith
estimates and de minimis rules for paid efforts To stimulate grassroots
lobbying</header>
<paragraph id="IDF5ECF30FDBE0473B9D78DF71732DCB69"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 5(c) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(c)) is amended to
read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDB7C7BDB6565B465FB40ADC4BFE4A0243" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID66DCFD0C2EA24647A5B5644FB09034F6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Estimates of
Income or Expenses</header><text>For purposes of this section, the following
shall apply:</text>
<paragraph id="ID5AA91BFC92014C8685077B6DD0EF77A1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Estimates of
income or expenses shall be made as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID1C6ED0A1B6F84123A1F53ED9099A99A8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Estimates of
amounts in excess of $10,0000 shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID413FCB695C4F46199EB19EDA369FB4ED"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In the event
income or expenses do not exceed $10,000, the registrant shall include a
statement that income or expenses totaled less than $10,000 for the reporting
period.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF039B361E4DF4566B98C3B72F2014F72"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Estimates of
income or expenses relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying shall be made as follows:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID9FF7C06B48434DC2A32E94A0F3AD9EE9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Estimates of
amounts in excess of $25,000 shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID76C4AEF9466D456BAA03552B5BD4964C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In the event
income or expenses do not exceed $25,000, the registrant shall include a
statement that income or expenses totaled less than $25,000 for the reporting
period.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDEE4A982A52564FC69AC093F08374F14E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Tax
reporting</header><text>Section 15 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1610) is
amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID6584490B119E426AB86852A124EC8249"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<clause id="IDA24B6ADD35844599B124070DA7CC1ADA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
paragraph (1), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1AD2118B2F494076B206A901D9D690A1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDAF242EE73CE348BDB080D96799685704"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDBCFE4D6D6C3A4DC69C9C7F415EDAA5BB" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID3C16A639C1FD4A1085F268ADFF375101"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in lieu of using
the definition of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying in section
3(18), consider as paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those
activities that are grassroots expenditures as defined in section 4911(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE6A4D9CB987649D8BFE8CA11CC0B22A1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)—</text>
<clause id="ID88B64C62069540A39376E570892FD5E8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
paragraph (1), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID39F07AD6270E4B439F5C4E195BDC9FF6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID069224F0B9364EA6A8B7C474271C2667"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDE4DF204F46D74A3DB3F37E8B6E93F824" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID191851BFA5134834B182D2D0CB6F9683"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in lieu of using
the definition of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying in section
3(18), consider as paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those
activities that are grassroots expenditures as defined in section 4911(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDEFF2298A8E5A41C3A3886DADD1C542AB"><enum>221.</enum><header>Electronic
filing and public database for lobbyists for foreign governments</header>
<subsection id="IDAC7326E56CCA4B89AA1CED46389FB5CD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Electronic
filing</header><text>Section 2 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (22
U.S.C. 612) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID99D55D32981D48A7A1FB54B68EE37320" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID95FE9129D56C48BC8B9238721A49B4FB"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Electronic
Filing of Registration Statements and Updates</header><text>A registration
statement or update required to be filed under this section shall be filed in
electronic form, in addition to any other form that may be required by the
Attorney
General.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="IDEAE8E2D3A42248C5BC95B741D62294FE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Public
database</header><text>Section 6 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (22
U.S.C. 616) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID4C77DB2880114828B60C346015EB17B5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID73C107401DC243F2A34F84E455D2C59E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Public Database
of Registration Statements and Updates</header>
<paragraph id="ID8CB3D2ED9CAA4B5FB32326DD328CDD3C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Attorney General 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—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID241AF991D60F4D8B808CE29E748EF42E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes the
information contained in registration statements and updates filed under this
Act;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6A0A19A288C741E7BFDB7A6C3B85A067"><enum>(B)</enum><text>directly links
the information it contains to the information disclosed in reports filed with
the Federal Election Commission under section 304 of the
<act-name parsable-cite="FECA">Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971</act-name>
(2 U.S.C. 434); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2B12BEA7A19746E09E2414CDB4B5A388"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is searchable and
sortable, at a minimum, by each of the categories of information described in
section 2(a).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDA613FF829E024E63A171A4736C68D434"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Accountability</header><text>Each
registration statement and update filed in electronic form pursuant to section
2(g) shall be made available for public inspection over the internet not more
than 48 hours after the registration statement or update is
filed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="IDB8F9F809364349029EFD09720614A93C"><enum>222.</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle and the
amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect January 1, 2008.</text>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="ID59263D0C9CB74FB18AA0252C166B0CB1"><enum>B</enum><header>Oversight of
ethics and lobbying</header>
<section id="IDEE87018A9DA845149C05B12AE983910D"><enum>231.</enum><header>Comptroller
General audit and annual report</header>
<subsection id="IDF818382C65AF4A89898810B281385D1A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Audit
required</header><text>The Comptroller General shall audit on an annual basis
lobbying registration and reports filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 to determine the extent of compliance or noncompliance with the
requirements of that Act by lobbyists and their clients.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID4305809DD7714CCBBE43855975297084"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual
reports</header><text>Not later than April 1 of each year, the Comptroller
General shall submit to Congress a report on the review required by subsection
(a). The report shall include the Comptroller General’s assessment of the
matters required to be emphasized by that subsection and any recommendations of
the Comptroller General to—</text>
<paragraph id="IDEF008271067B47E6B981CA51C6F7FDED"><enum>(1)</enum><text>improve the
compliance by lobbyists with the requirements of that Act; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9976B457EEE344E5ADC4180D26831FDC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives with the
resources and authorities needed for effective oversight and enforcement of
that Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID9191CDF997F04DE69A034354E6C990B2"><enum>232.</enum><header>Mandatory
Senate ethics training for Members and staff</header>
<subsection id="IDAF1CDBE340154885A929B213B6339B30"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Training
program</header><text>The Select Committee on Ethics shall conduct ongoing
ethics training and awareness programs for Members of the Senate and Senate
staff.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDEAA8537641D74C0193904594913FF320"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
ethics training program conducted by the Select Committee on Ethics shall be
completed by—</text>
<paragraph id="IDC34F4310DE6C4EF5B5316FA8879A93E6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>new Senators or
staff not later than 60 days after commencing service or employment; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID85B7CDF068F84879B7E4E23B27DAF424"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Senators and
Senate staff serving or employed on the date of enactment of this Act not later
than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID03E1CF58CF6E4CD7A8FB9E8BF3445217"><enum>233.</enum><header>Sense of the
Senate regarding self-regulation within the Lobbying community</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of the Senate that the
lobbying community should develop proposals for multiple self-regulatory
organizations which could provide—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3ED23D67A85047799F0045270DCCC9BC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for the creation
of standards for the organizations appropriate to the type of lobbying and
individuals to be served;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDCD360FA053BD424BA551ECF8F84778D4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>training for the
lobbying community on law, ethics, reporting requirements, and disclosure
requirements;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID06916F13B99D4BF6BD7A9CE82CE69A73"><enum>(3)</enum><text>for the
development of educational materials for the public on how to responsibly hire
a lobbyist or lobby firm;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3F65BBF60D324D0890ED78EE7750F395"><enum>(4)</enum><text>standards
regarding reasonable fees to clients;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID41FC82C9AC0D42F5A535D5099C0727EF"><enum>(5)</enum><text>for the creation
of a third-party certification program that includes ethics training;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD361F929A70E407AAABFB1B92802ED3B"><enum>(6)</enum><text>for disclosure of
requirements to clients regarding fee schedules and conflict of interest
rules.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID8F89BFDD68F24ADCAEDC7FD10AB3FF56"><enum>234.</enum><header>Annual ethics
committees reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives and
the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate shall each issue an annual report
due no later than January 31, describing the following:</text>
<paragraph id="IDED3A8C04712F4EEB880468DE11A29416"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The number of
alleged violations of Senate or House rules including the number received from
third parties, from Members or staff within each House, or inquires raised by a
Member or staff of the respective House or Senate committee.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF17020AA8BF543079ADC37D21D071B1A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A list of the
number of alleged violations that were dismissed—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID58DA81DA0F3B49898EDE8479C3109EF9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA105857F735146E79E31F0D1F193FE37"><enum>(B)</enum><text>because they
failed to provide sufficient facts as to any material violation of the House or
Senate rules beyond mere allegation or assertion.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID11AB984F2DB44BCAB78948D0FFF84CC5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The number of
complaints in which the committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7A871F6A3C6F4512A2AD67402B670A3F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The number of
complaints that staff presented to the committee with recommendations that the
complaint be dismissed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID19A9F255088F4ED48A48C151BB54D958"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The number of
complaints that the staff presented to the committee with recommendation that
the investigation proceed.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0D517A67ABC248E6812824D4E5635C97"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The number of
ongoing inquiries.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE295DDBD9BC44049B89CC78913DC1F6B"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The number of
complaints that the committee dismissed for lack of substantial merit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5703CA61A54E44A0B4137112461165D1"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The number of
private letters of admonition or public letters of admonition issued.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID15CCD17470514F6A96CB467AC247F2BB"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The number of
matters resulting in a disciplinary sanction.</text>
</paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="IDE12C13723F22400D9F9F2E60B6154A0D"><enum>C</enum><header>Slowing the
revolving door</header>
<section id="ID5E7D69C018374A03AA96E75637D767A8"><enum>241.</enum><header>Amendments to
restrictions on former officers, employees, and elected officials of the
executive and legislative branches</header>
<subsection id="IDFD32AC9810EA426F9AA6EF503757D9C8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Very Senior
Executive Personnel</header><text>The matter after subparagraph (C) in section
207(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>within
1 year</quote> and inserting <quote>within 2 years</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDB0810AE4634E46A7A3D054607488661F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Restrictions on
Lobbying by Members of Congress and Employees of
Congress</header><text>Subsection (e) of section 207 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDD5CBEB2DD32444F39448C75C90145CCC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)(A), by striking <quote>within 1 year</quote> and inserting <quote>within 2
years</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4E6C00338782427CA3FA8DBBD71EE8B4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraphs (2) through (5) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID3EBA68158C224195BC146D8BBDD734E7" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDDCB39D6A055B456FB2F463515F62F3FB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Congressional
staff</header>
<subparagraph id="ID282D833B2DB44BD4A769E412C09B7E62"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>Any
person who is an employee of a House of Congress and who, within 1 year after
that person leaves office, knowingly makes, with the intent to influence, any
communication to or appearance before any of the persons described in
subparagraph (B), on behalf of any other person (except the United States) in
connection with any matter on which such former employee 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.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7C456C62CDCF40FEBC56D4BEE7F08592"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Contact persons
covered</header><text>persons referred to in subparagraph (A) with respect to
appearances or communications are any Member, officer, or employee of the House
of Congress in which the person subject to subparagraph (A) was employed. This
subparagraph shall not apply to contacts with staff of the Secretary of the
Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives regarding compliance with
lobbying disclosure requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5C262A7A11FD41FBBDD026DFFED3FFFB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph
(6)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID0C5CE6B2428847FFABD60E9B0D6C40D0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph
(2)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAAB7F92B71D4401CB9C1F9DB3F99A0E3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>(A)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID129E6A9F3B2C4FA0A72E025F8F9BCCA3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking
subparagraph (B); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID935ED21EA06740D186E022ED9ADD42BA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by redesignating
the paragraph as paragraph (3); and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID8335F364FBD9495F88BB311495C29723"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (7) as paragraph (4).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID40FCB8BCD4A646B79E7934C77A72FFF5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (b) shall take effect 60
days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="IDBE01660F1B8B4492B26E7D967996A599"><enum>D</enum><header>Ban on provision
of gifts or travel by lobbyists in violation of the rules of congress</header>
<section id="ID2A6D79BA986A4D45AF4259355B1D7493"><enum>251.</enum><header>Prohibition on
provision of gifts or travel by registered lobbyists to Members of Congress and
to Congressional employees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID104169FF615E49A194312131F080D1B9" style="OLC">
<section id="ID66331A86C44A47C78C67187E6D44C79E"><enum>25.</enum><header>Prohibition on
provision of gifts or travel by registered lobbyists to Members of Congress and
to Congressional employees</header>
<subsection id="ID3C8B0A60C19949A79474FF1B8F2DE989"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>A
registered lobbyist may not knowingly make a gift or provide travel to a
Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of Congress,
unless the gift or travel may be accepted under the rules of the House of
Representatives or the Senate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID324141C6941545CA82832BED1CC19DEB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Penalty</header><text>Any
registered lobbyist who violates this section shall be subject to penalties
provided in section
7.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section></subtitle><subtitle id="IDD6E23FFA746F4EFBADFD68C0DA996950"><enum>E</enum><header>Commission To
Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of 2007</header>
<section id="ID765EF9959DE3472197C6BB9315B858B9"><enum>261.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This subtitle may be
cited as the <quote>Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of
2007</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="IDD24F939F8B444D9480E374F29F7972EA"><enum>262.</enum><header>Establishment
of commission</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is
established in the legislative branch a commission to be known as the
<quote>Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress</quote> (in this
subtitle referred to as the <quote>Commission</quote>).</text>
</section><section id="ID53815DACFF7245FA9DE435A5B2A5477D"><enum>263.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of the Commission are
to—</text>
<paragraph id="ID8FD71149A6294D0DBFA47EEF0BDDE21D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>evaluate and
report the effectiveness of current congressional ethics requirements, if
penalties are enforced and sufficient, and make recommendations for new
penalties;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5EA1D4482D7D47D195C0A2D6AA5BF163"><enum>(2)</enum><text>weigh the need
for improved ethical conduct with the need for lawmakers to have access to
expertise on public policy issues;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA8D65D1769C7477288EE9BEA148DD219"><enum>(3)</enum><text>determine whether
the current system for enforcing ethics rules and standards of conduct is
sufficiently effective and transparent;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID32A22B586B7B4C3D8BE78928E9AD8A0E"><enum>(4)</enum><text>determine whether
the statutory framework governing lobbying disclosure should be expanded to
include additional means of attempting to influence Members of Congress, senior
staff, and high-ranking executive branch officials;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF142EDEB27154E149256838FA5D8D8FB"><enum>(5)</enum><text>analyze and
evaluate the changes made by this Act to determine whether additional changes
need to be made to uphold and enforce standards of ethical conduct and
disclosure requirements; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF7837B142D8D489D8C173364FAF95CDC"><enum>(6)</enum><text>investigate and
report to Congress on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for
reform.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID3C7EF483409844BF8B3518098F7BE6F7"><enum>264.</enum><header>Composition of
commission</header>
<subsection id="ID9AB79C51C57C482DA32D819B4CDF0A3B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Members</header><text>The
Commission shall be composed of 10 members, of whom—</text>
<paragraph id="ID4874D4E9F4464659B40675D4BB34EEC8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the chair and
vice chair shall be selected by agreement of the majority leader and minority
leader of the House of Representatives and the majority leader and minority
leader of the Senate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD9D4551704CF49D3808A2BDF987DC0A9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>2 members shall
be appointed by the senior member of the Senate leadership of the Republican
Party, 1 of which is a former member of the Senate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0165FC00757245809A41A6A7E2D8C6E0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>2 members shall
be appointed by the senior member of the Senate leadership of the Democratic
Party, 1 of which is a former member of the Senate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID514DFF995492467DA24EF95D58C999EB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>2 members shall
be appointed by the senior member of the leadership of the House of
Representatives of the Republican Party, 1 of which is a former member of the
House of Representatives; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID0611FE16BC374080B6F5696E78D29A34"><enum>(5)</enum><text>2 members shall
be appointed by the senior member of the leadership of the House of
Representatives of the Democratic Party, 1 of which is a former member of the
House of Representatives.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDB0C4374B12414A29B56E5533A60DDE86"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Qualifications;
initial meeting</header>
<paragraph id="IDBD4B6C7DF67543F7A37DFFA0C99312B2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Political party
affiliation</header><text>Five members of the Commission shall be Democrats and
5 Republicans.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDE605D8A157840F6B580BD3E210ACAD6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Nongovernmental
appointees</header><text>An individual appointed to the Commission may not be
an officer or employee of the Federal Government or any State or local
government.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID16FEC45D9B0E4D57A96645CC0B6A8BE9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Other
qualifications</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that individuals
appointed to the Commission should be prominent United States citizens, with
national recognition and significant depth of experience in professions such as
governmental service, government consulting, government contracting, the law,
higher education, historian, business, public relations, and
fundraising.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDBAAA4F63E5AC4FB8A560BD6AFF8413EF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Deadline for
appointment</header><text>All members of the Commission shall be appointed on a
date 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD71BD7649DB74AC7BACA03EF2FC84D84"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Initial
meeting</header><text>The Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the
Commission as soon as practicable.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDF617495235E74A58A8725217040FEEAC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Quorum;
vacancies</header><text>After its initial meeting, the Commission shall meet
upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members. Six members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment was made.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDA877E171015A43F1812593944A138BF0"><enum>265.</enum><header>Functions of
Commission</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The functions of
the Commission are to submit to Congress a report required by this title
containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations as the Commission
shall determine, including proposing organization, coordination, planning,
management arrangements, procedures, rules and regulations—</text>
<paragraph id="IDF6F593A6D279415D9934923DD1F8AD1F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>related to
section 263; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID181669531E8D41FB9CCAA6C930BBB66D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>related to any
other areas the commission unanimously votes to be relevant to its mandate to
recommend reforms to strengthen ethical safeguards in Congress.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID62792E59234C44FC870F50A8BAAC5DF7"><enum>266.</enum><header>Powers of
Commission</header>
<subsection id="ID0B3BECE286E94B3384FDF73E80F99D4D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hearings and
evidence</header><text>The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission,
any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this
title hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, receive such evidence, administer such oaths.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID46BB339B10244A64940C5B7034D3719E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Obtaining
information</header><text>Upon request of the Commission, the head of any
agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government shall furnish information
deemed necessary by the panel to enable it to carry out its duties.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID3FE10E43C8F244B697BBE339F22265B5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limit on
Commission authority</header><text>The Commission shall not conduct any law
enforcement investigation, function as a court of law, or otherwise usurp the
duties and responsibilities of the ethics committee of the House of
Representatives or the Senate.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDC79EC622B6B8493D8ECFABB1599AE620"><enum>267.</enum><header>Administration</header>
<subsection id="ID18F11023BF68456FBB46B0266698D51A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>Except
as provided in subsection (b), members of the Commission shall receive no
additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the
Commission.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID2119202EC005493EBB37E876C4ED5B55"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Travel expenses
and per diem</header><text>Each member of the Commission shall receive travel
expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with sections 5702
and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDAA12B6E1E3534C80A3D04DF0C0CDB951"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Staff and
support services</header>
<paragraph id="ID7A56C9100F29468AB2CAD93D76D87268"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Staff
director</header>
<subparagraph id="ID10799C7FA23946D79795A3EB79412768"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>The
Chair (or Co-Chairs) in accordance with the rules agreed upon by the Commission
shall appoint a staff director for the Commission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID206F3F0AEBA54495B16902E29A4B1049"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>The
staff director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate established for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID89744F71A24043FCA5FE93C385227026"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Staff</header><text>The
Chair (or Co-Chairs) in accordance with the rules agreed upon by the Commission
shall appoint such additional personnel as the Commission determines to be
necessary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6BD64A87D2A04B57BCD87AACCE167099"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Applicability
of civil service laws</header><text>The staff director and other members of the
staff of the Commission shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service,
and shall be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule
pay rates.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA5F96C78DFF74FDF9BC68091CD8A410B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Experts and
consultants</header><text>With the approval of the Commission, the staff
director may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b)
of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDEBBC8E5AA59A450894D273D03D5B143C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Physical
Facilities</header><text>The Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the
appropriate entities in the legislative branch, shall locate and provide
suitable office space for the operation of the Commission on a nonreimbursable
basis. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the Commission and
shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals required for the proper
functioning of the Commission.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID82213C42B6F9444D9197E5F03C9F3A44"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Administrative
support services and other assistance</header>
<paragraph id="IDAB878265E31C496AAA5F021F877B2A73"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Upon the request of the Commission, the Architect of the
Capitol and the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission on a nonreimbursable basis such administrative support services as
the Commission may request.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD19BCABECCA64067885EC66582BEBB80"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional
support</header><text>In addition to the assistance set forth in paragraph (1),
departments and agencies of the United States may provide the Commission such
services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as the
Commission may deem advisable and as may be authorized by law.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDB69E3B0A676343DC8A01744A84F655BE"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Use of
Mails</header><text>The Commission may use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as Federal agencies and shall, for
purposes of the frank, be considered a commission of Congress as described in
section 3215 of title 39, United States Code.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDE1620508B5DF42E8B0D823A13B9035F9"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Printing</header><text>For
purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including the cost of
personnel detailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commission shall be
deemed to be a committee of the Congress.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDDDE782C227E94063B5560C50CE6604A1"><enum>268.</enum><header>Security
clearances for Commission Members and staff</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The appropriate Federal agencies or
departments shall cooperate with the Commission in expeditiously providing to
the Commission members and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent
possible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements, except that no
person shall be provided with access to classified information under this title
without the appropriate security clearances.</text>
</section><section id="ID4B030B9AF01F49219D50A1B65D3496A4"><enum>269.</enum><header>Commission
reports; termination</header>
<subsection id="ID8B117625C23A4764A9E0428E00D0C533"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual
Reports</header><text>The Commission shall submit—</text>
<paragraph id="ID516F5E328CA04EB585820FAE94623F5C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an initial report
to Congress not later than July 1, 2007; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID27437E6F18874F2C8DD3445738B32194"><enum>(2)</enum><text>annual reports to
Congress after the report required by paragraph (1);</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">containing
such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective measures as have
been agreed to by a majority of Commission members.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="IDAB61B26E44A5430789BB33E2ECEE179C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrative
Activities</header><text>During the 60-day period beginning on the date of
submission of each annual report and the final report under this section, the
Commission shall—</text>
<paragraph id="ID500F85E58C7B4CCCB49152BC6072EA59"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be available to
provide testimony to committees of Congress concerning such reports; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1BD6B9FA6E48443AB0002318DB1C01ED"><enum>(2)</enum><text>take action to
appropriately disseminate such reports.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDEED5DB5A656645C58DAD80A5F207F93B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Termination of
Commission</header>
<paragraph id="ID6A7F30E714154C43B80BB530A02F5A5C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Final
report</header><text>Five years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall submit to Congress a final report containing information
described in subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA3CD39BEEEAE4A5B89107E99832627CC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The
Commission, and all the authorities of this title, shall terminate 60 days
after the date on which the final report is submitted under paragraph (1), and
the Commission may use such 60-day period for the purpose of concluding its
activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDA0AE1CECCAAC4977AC0493A18E2A7D14"><enum>270.</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized such sums as necessary
to carry out this title.</text>
</section></subtitle>
January 4, 2007
Read the first time; ordered read the second time and placed
on the calendar