I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2860 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 7, 2011 Mr. Loebsack (for himself, Mr. Quigley, and Mr. Renacci) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Rules A BILL To amend the Budget Control Act of 2011 to require members and staff of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to disclose lobbying activities and campaign or member-designated political action committee contributions, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Deficit Committee Transparency Act.

2.

Disclosure of certain activities of members and staff of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Section 401 of the Budget Control Act of 2011 is amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (h) and by adding after subsection (c) the following new subsections: (d)

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities and Meetings

(1)

In general

Any member of the joint committee, and any individual who is on the staff of the committee or on the personal staff of a member of the committee, shall disclose any meeting with any other individual relating to matters before the committee if such individual— (A)is a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal as those terms are defined in clause 5 of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives; (B)has any direct personal or pecuniary interest in any legislative measure pending before the House of Representatives or the Senate or reported by a committee of either House; or (C)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. (2)

Timing of disclosure

A meeting shall be disclosed under paragraph (1) within 48 hours after such meeting is held, subject to subsection (f)(2). (e)

Disclosure of Campaign or Member-Designated Political Action Committee Contributions

(1)

In general

Any member of the joint committee who is a candidate with an authorized committee or who is a candidate or an individual holding Federal office affiliated with a leadership PAC shall disclose any contribution such committee or such leadership PAC receives from an individual, or any entity, which— (A)is a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal; (B)the authorized committee or leadership PAC, using the best efforts of such committee or PAC, determines is in the employ of or represents any party or organization for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or amendment of any legislative proposal; or (C)makes a single contribution in excess of $500. (2)

Timing of disclosure

The disclosure required under paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 48 hours after the receipt of the contribution described in such paragraph. (3)

Definitions

In this subsection: (A)

Authorized committee, candidate, and contribution

The terms authorized committee, candidate, and contribution have the meaning given such terms in section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431). (B)

Foreign principal, lobbyist

The terms foreign principal and registered lobbyist have the meaning given such terms in clause 5 of rule XXV of the Rules of the House of Representatives. (C)

Leadership PAC

The term leadership PAC has the meaning given such term in section 304(i)(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(i)(8)). (f)

Final Report on Activities & Campaign or Member-Designated Political Action Committee Contributions

(1)

Contents of final report

Not later than December 2, 2011, the joint committee shall submit a report to both Houses of Congress disclosing all information required under subsections (d) and (e) in a final report. (2)

Certain activities posted on website

(A)Any meeting described under subsection (d) that occurs in the 48-hour period immediately preceding the vote required under subsection (b)(3)(B)(i) shall be posted on the official website of the joint committee before such meeting is held and before such vote may occur. (B)Any meeting described under subsection (d) that occurs in the 48-hour period immediately preceding the submission of the report and legislative language required under subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii) shall be posted to the website before such meeting is held and before such submission may occur. (g)

Official Website

(1)

Creation of joint committee website

Before the first meeting of the joint committee, the Co-Chairs shall establish and maintain a website for the joint committee that is available to the public and the contents of which are searchable and sortable. (2)

Content

The website shall contain information required under subsections (d), (e), and (f) and shall contain such other information the joint committee or its staff deems necessary and beneficial to inform the public of the committee’s proceedings, deliberations, and deadlines of the joint committee. (3)

Posting requirements

Information required to be disclosed under subsections (d), (e), and (f) shall be posted to the website within the timeframe required for disclosure under such subsections. .

3.

Publication of report and legislative language proposed by joint committee

Section 401(b)(3)(B)(iv) of the Budget Control Act of 2011 is amended by inserting before the first sentence the following new sentence: The proposed joint committee report and proposed legislative language shall be made available to the public on the website of the joint committee at least 72 hours before the vote on such measures..

4.

Audio and visual coverage of joint committee hearings

Section 401(b)(5)(F) of the Budget Control Act of 2011 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new clause: (iii)

Audio and visual coverage

Whenever a hearing conducted by the joint committee is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to coverage by audio and visual means, including in a format that is streaming on the Internet via the website of the joint committee. .