I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3491 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 18, 2011 Mr. Cicilline introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members of Congress from engaging in lobbying contacts.

1.

Prohibition on lobbying contacts by former Members of Congress

(a)

In general

Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended as follows: (1)Paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows: (1)

Members of Congress

(A)

In general

Any person who is a Senator or a Member of the House of Representatives and who, after that person leaves office, knowingly makes any lobbying contact to a covered executive branch official, or to any Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress, shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title. (B)

Definitions

In this paragraph, the terms lobbying contact and covered executive branch official have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(8)). (i)The term lobbying contact . (2)Paragraph (2) is amended— (A)by striking (2) Any person and inserting the following: (2)

Officers and certain staff

(A)

Officers and staff of the Senate

Any person ; and (B)by adding at the end the following: (B)

Officers of the House of Representatives

(i)Any person who is an elected officer of the House of Representatives 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 clause (ii), on behalf of any other person (except the United States) in connection with any matter on which such elected officer 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. (ii)The persons referred to in clause (i) with respect to appearances or communications by a former elected officer are any Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives. . (b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to individuals who leave office or employment to which such amendments apply on or after the date of adjournment of the second session of the 112th Congress sine die or December 31, 2012, whichever date is earlier.