[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 83 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6931-S6937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED ON MAY 18, 1995

                                 ______

   THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION AND DEREGU- LATION ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


               WELLSTONE (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 1110

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Lautenberg, and Mr. 
Baucus) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by them to the 
bill (S. 652) to provide for a pro-competitive, de-regulatory national 
policy framework designed to accelerate rapidly private sector 
deployment of advanced telecommunications and information technologies 
and services to all Americans by opening all telecommunications markets 
to competition, and for other purposes; as follows:

       At the end of the bill, add the following:
                        TITLE ____--GIFT REFORM

     SEC. ____01. AMENDMENTS TO SENATE RULES.

       Rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``1. (a) No Member, officer, or employee of the Senate 
     shall accept a gift, knowing that such gift is provided by a 
     lobbyist or by an agent of a foreign principal registered 
     under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
       ``(b) The prohibition in subparagraph (a) includes the 
     following:
       ``(1) Anything provided by a lobbyist or an agent of a 
     foreign principal which is paid for, charged to, or 
     reimbursed by a client or firm of such lobbyist or agent of a 
     foreign principal.
       ``(2) Anything provided by a lobbyist or an agent of a 
     foreign principal to an entity that is maintained or 
     controlled by a Member, officer, or employee.
       ``(3) A charitable contribution (as defined in section 
     170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made by a 
     lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal on the basis of a 
     designation, recommendation, or other specification of a 
     Member, officer, or employee (not including a mass mailing or 
     other solicitation directed to a broad category of persons or 
     entities).
       ``(4) A contribution or other payment by a lobbyist or an 
     agent of a foreign principal to a legal expense fund 
     established for the benefit of a Member, officer, or 
     employee.
       ``(5) A charitable contribution (as defined in section 
     170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made by a 
     lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal in lieu of an 
     honorarium to a Member, officer, or employee.
       ``(6) A financial contribution or expenditure made by a 
     lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal relating to a 
     conference, retreat, or similar event, sponsored by or 
     affiliated with an official congressional organization, for 
     or on behalf Members, officers, or employees.
       ``(c) The following are not gifts subject to the 
     prohibition in subparagraph (a):
       ``(1) Anything for which the recipient pays the market 
     value, or does not use and promptly returns to the donor.
       ``(2) A contribution, as defined in the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) that is lawfully 
     made under that Act, or attendance at a fundraising event 
     sponsored by a political organization described in section 
     527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(3) Food or refreshments of nominal value offered other 
     than as part of a meal.
       ``(4) Benefits resulting from the business, employment, or 
     other outside activities of the spouse of a member, officer, 
     or employee, if such benefits are customarily provided to 
     others in similar circumstances.
       ``(5) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued 
     participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan 
     maintained by a former employer.
       ``(6) Informational materials that are sent to the office 
     of a Member, officer, or employee in the form of books, 
     articles, periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, 
     videotapes, or other forms of communication.
       ``(d)(1) A gift given by an individual under circumstances 
     which make it clear that the gift is given for a nonbusiness 
     purpose and is motivated by a family relationship or close 
     personal friendship and not by the position of the Member, 
     officer, or employee shall not be subject to the prohibition 
     in subparagraph (a).
       ``(2) A gift shall not be considered to be given for a 
     nonbusiness purpose if the individual giving the gift seeks--
       ``(A) to deduct the value of such gift as a business 
     expense on the individual's Federal income tax return, or
       ``(B) direct or indirect reimbursement or any other 
     compensation for the value of the gift from a client or 
     employer of such lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal.
       ``(3) In determining if the giving of a gift is motivated 
     by a family relationship or close personal friendship, at 
     least the following factors shall be considered:
       ``(A) The history of the relationship between the 
     individual giving the gift and the recipient of the gift, 
     including whether or not gifts have previously been exchanged 
     by such individuals.
       ``(B) Whether the gift was purchased by the individual who 
     gave the item.
       ``(C) Whether the individual who gave the gift also at the 
     same time gave the same or similar gifts to other Members, 
     officers, or employees.
       ``2. (a) In addition to the restriction on receiving gifts 
     from lobbyists, lobbying firms, and agents of foreign 
     principals provided by paragraph 1 and except as provided in 
     this rule, no Member, officer, or employee of the Senate 
     shall knowingly accept a gift from any other person.
       ``(b)(1) For the purpose of this rule, the term `gift' 
     means any 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.
       ``(2) A gift to the spouse or dependent of a Member, 
     officer, or employee (or a gift to any other individual based 
     on that individual's relationship with the Member, officer, 
     or employee) shall be considered a gift to the Member, 
     officer, or employee if it is given with the knowledge and 
     acquiescence of the Member, officer, or employee and the 
     Member, officer, or employee has reason to believe the gift 
     was given because of the official position of the Member, 
     officer, or employee.
       ``(c) The restrictions in subparagraph (a) shall not apply 
     to the following:
       ``(1) Anything for which the Member, officer, or employee 
     pays the market value, or does not use and promptly returns 
     to the donor.
       ``(2) A contribution, as defined in the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) that is lawfully 
     made under that Act, or attendance at a fundraising event 
     sponsored by a political organization described in section 
     527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(3) Anything provided by an individual on the basis of a 
     personal or family relationship unless the Member, officer, 
     or employee has reason to believe that, under the 
     circumstances, the gift was provided because of the official 
     position of the Member, officer, or employee and not because 
     of the personal or family relationship. The Select Committee 
     on Ethics shall provide guidance on the applicability of this 
     clause and examples of circumstances under which a gift may 
     be accepted under this exception.
       ``(4) A contribution or other payment to a legal expense 
     fund established for the benefit of a Member, officer, or 
     employee, that is otherwise lawfully made, if the person 
     making the contribution or payment is identified for the 
     Select Committee on Ethics.
       ``(5) Any food or refreshments which the recipient 
     reasonably believes to have a value of less than $20.
       ``(6) Any gift from another Member, officer, or employee of 
     the Senate or the House of Representatives.
       ``(7) Food, refreshments, lodging, and other benefits--
       ``(A) resulting from the outside business or employment 
     activities (or other outside activities that are not 
     connected to the duties of the Member, officer, or employee 
     as an officeholder) of the Member, officer, or employee, or 
     the spouse of the Member, officer, or employee, if such 
     benefits have not been offered or enhanced because of the 
     official position of the Member, officer, or employee and are 
     customarily provided to others in similar circumstances;
       ``(B) customarily provided by a prospective employer in 
     connection with bona fide employment discussions; or
       ``(C) provided by a political organization described in 
     section 527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in 
     connection with a [[Page S6932]] fundraising or campaign 
     event sponsored by such an organization.
       ``(8) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued 
     participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan 
     maintained by a former employer.
       ``(9) Informational materials that are sent to the office 
     of the Member, officer, or employee in the form of books, 
     articles, periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, 
     videotapes, or other forms of communication.
       ``(10) Awards or prizes which are given to competitors in 
     contests or events open to the public, including random 
     drawings.
       ``(11) Honorary degrees (and associated travel, food, 
     refreshments, and entertainment) and other bona fide, 
     nonmonetary awards presented in recognition of public service 
     (and associated food, refreshments, and entertainment 
     provided in the presentation of such degrees and awards).
       ``(12) Donations of products from the State that the Member 
     represents that are intended primarily for promotional 
     purposes, such as display or free distribution, and are of 
     minimal value to any individual recipient.
       ``(13) Food, refreshments, and entertainment provided to a 
     Member or an employee of a Member in the Member's home State, 
     subject to reasonable limitations, to be established by the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.
       ``(14) An item of little intrinsic value such as a greeting 
     card, baseball cap, or a T shirt.
       ``(15) Training (including food and refreshments furnished 
     to all attendees as an integral part of the training) 
     provided to a Member, officer, or employee, if such training 
     is in the interest of the Senate.
       ``(16) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at 
     death.
       ``(17) Any item, the receipt of which is authorized by the 
     Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, the Mutual Educational and 
     Cultural Exchange Act, or any other statute.
       ``(18) Anything which is paid for by the Federal 
     Government, by a State or local government, or secured by the 
     Government under a Government contract.
       ``(19) A gift of personal hospitality of an individual, as 
     defined in section 109(14) of the Ethics in Government Act.
       ``(20) Free attendance at a widely attended event permitted 
     pursuant to subparagraph (d).
       ``(21) Opportunities and benefits which are--
       ``(A) available to the public or to a class consisting of 
     all Federal employees, whether or not restricted on the basis 
     of geographic consideration;
       ``(B) offered to members of a group or class in which 
     membership is unrelated to congressional employment;
       ``(C) offered to members of an organization, such as an 
     employees' association or congressional credit union, in 
     which membership is related to congressional employment and 
     similar opportunities are available to large segments of the 
     public through organizations of similar size;
       ``(D) offered to any group or class that is not defined in 
     a manner that specifically discriminates among Government 
     employees on the basis of branch of Government or type of 
     responsibility, or on a basis that favors those of higher 
     rank or rate of pay;
       ``(E) in the form of loans from banks and other financial 
     institutions on terms generally available to the public; or
       ``(F) in the form of reduced membership or other fees for 
     participation in organization activities offered to all 
     Government employees by professional organizations if the 
     only restrictions on membership relate to professional 
     qualifications.
       ``(22) A plaque, trophy, or other memento of modest value.
       ``(23) Anything for which, in an unusual case, a waiver is 
     granted by the Select Committee on Ethics.
       ``(d)(1) Except as prohibited by paragraph 1, a Member, 
     officer, or employee may accept an offer of free attendance 
     at a widely attended convention, conference, symposium, 
     forum, panel discussion, dinner, viewing, reception, or 
     similar event, provided by the sponsor of the event, if--
       ``(A) the Member, officer, or employee participates in the 
     event as a speaker or a panel participant, by presenting 
     information related to Congress or matters before Congress, 
     or by performing a ceremonial function appropriate to the 
     Member's, officer's, or employee's official position; or
       ``(B) attendance at the event is appropriate to the 
     performance of the official duties or representative function 
     of the Member, officer, or employee.
       ``(2) A Member, officer, or employee who attends an event 
     described in clause (1) may accept a sponsor's unsolicited 
     offer of free attendance at the event for an accompanying 
     individual if others in attendance will generally be 
     similarly accompanied or if such attendance is appropriate to 
     assist in the representation of the Senate.
       ``(3) Except as prohibited by paragraph 1, a Member, 
     officer, or employee, or the spouse or dependent thereof, may 
     accept a sponsor's unsolicited offer of free attendance at a 
     charity event, except that reimbursement for transportation 
     and lodging may not be accepted in connection with the event.
       ``(4) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `free 
     attendance' may include waiver of all or part of a conference 
     or other fee, the provision of local transportation, or the 
     provision of food, refreshments, entertainment, and 
     instructional materials furnished to all attendees as an 
     integral part of the event. The term does not include 
     entertainment collateral to the event, or food or 
     refreshments taken other than in a group setting with all or 
     substantially all other attendees.
       ``(e) No Member, officer, or employee may accept a gift the 
     value of which exceeds $250 on the basis of the personal 
     relationship exception in subparagraph (c)(3) or the close 
     personal friendship exception in section 106(d) of the 
     Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1994 unless the Select Committee 
     on Ethics issues a written determination that one of such 
     exceptions applies.
       ``(f)(1) The Committee on Rules and Administration is 
     authorized to adjust the dollar amount referred to in 
     subparagraph (c)(5) on a periodic basis, to the extent 
     necessary to adjust for inflation.
       ``(2) The Select Committee on Ethics shall provide guidance 
     setting forth reasonable steps that may be taken by Members, 
     officers, and employees, with a minimum of paperwork and 
     time, to prevent the acceptance of prohibited gifts from 
     lobbyists.
       ``(3) When it is not practicable to return a tangible item 
     because it is perishable, the item may, at the discretion of 
     the recipient, be given to an appropriate charity or 
     destroyed.
       ``3. (a)(1) Except as prohibited by paragraph 1, a 
     reimbursement (including payment in kind) to a Member, 
     officer, or employee for necessary transportation, lodging 
     and related expenses for travel to a meeting, speaking 
     engagement, factfinding trip or similar event in connection 
     with the duties of the Member, officer, or employee as an 
     officeholder shall be deemed to be a reimbursement to the 
     Senate and not a gift prohibited by this rule, if the Member, 
     officer, or employee--
       ``(A) in the case of an employee, receives advance 
     authorization, from the Member or officer under whose direct 
     supervision the employee works, to accept reimbursement, and
       ``(B) discloses the expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed 
     and the authorization to the Secretary of the Senate within 
     30 days after the travel is completed.
       ``(2) For purposes of clause (1), events, the activities of 
     which are substantially recreational in nature, shall not be 
     considered to be in connection with the duties of a Member, 
     officer, or employee as an officeholder.
       ``(b) Each advance authorization to accept reimbursement 
     shall be signed by the Member or officer under whose direct 
     supervision the employee works and shall include--
       ``(1) the name of the employee;
       ``(2) the name of the person who will make the 
     reimbursement;
       ``(3) the time, place, and purpose of the travel; and
       ``(4) a determination that the travel is in connection with 
     the duties of the employee as an officeholder and would not 
     create the appearance that the employee is using public 
     office for private gain.
       ``(c) Each disclosure made under subparagraph (a)(1) of 
     expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed shall be signed by 
     the Member or officer (in the case of travel by that Member 
     or officer) or by the Member or officer under whose direct 
     supervision the employee works (in the case of travel by an 
     employee) and shall include--
       ``(1) a good faith estimate of total transportation 
     expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(2) a good faith estimate of total lodging expenses 
     reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(3) a good faith estimate of total meal expenses 
     reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(4) a good faith estimate of the total of other expenses 
     reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(5) a determination that all such expenses are necessary 
     transportation, lodging, and related expenses as defined in 
     this paragraph; and
       ``(6) in the case of a reimbursement to a Member or 
     officer, a determination that the travel was in connection 
     with the duties of the Member or officer as an officeholder 
     and would not create the appearance that the Member or 
     officer is using public office for private gain.
       ``(d) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term 
     `necessary transportation, lodging, and related expenses'--
       ``(1) includes reasonable expenses that are necessary for 
     travel for a period not exceeding 3 days exclusive of travel 
     time within the United States or 7 days exclusive of travel 
     time outside of the United States unless approved in advance 
     by the Select Committee on Ethics;
       ``(2) is limited to reasonable expenditures for 
     transportation, lodging, conference fees and materials, and 
     food and refreshments, including reimbursement for necessary 
     transportation, whether or not such transportation occurs 
     within the periods described in clause (1);
       ``(3) does not include expenditures for recreational 
     activities, or entertainment other than that provided to all 
     attendees as an integral part of the event; and
       ``(4) may include travel expenses incurred on behalf of 
     either the spouse or a child of the Member, officer, or 
     employee, subject to a determination signed by the Member or 
     officer (or in the case of an employee, the Member or officer 
     under whose direct supervision the employee works) that the 
     attendance of the spouse or child is appropriate to assist in 
     the representation of the Senate. [[Page S6933]] 
       ``(e) The Secretary of the Senate shall make available to 
     the public all advance authorizations and disclosures of 
     reimbursement filed pursuant to subparagraph (a) as soon as 
     possible after they are received.
       ``4. In this rule:
       ``(a) The term `client' means any person or entity that 
     employs or retains another person for financial or other 
     compensation to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of that 
     person or entity. A person or entity whose employees act as 
     lobbyists on its own behalf is both a client and an employer 
     of such employees. In the case of a coalition or association 
     that employs or retains other persons to conduct lobbying 
     activities, the client is--
       ``(1) the coalition or association and not its individual 
     members when the lobbying activities are conducted on behalf 
     of its membership and financed by the coalition's or 
     association's dues and assessments; or
       ``(2) an individual member or members, when the lobbying 
     activities are conducted on behalf of, and financed 
     separately by, 1 or more individual members and not by the 
     coalition's or association's dues and assessments.
       ``(b) The term `lobbying firm'--
       ``(1) means a person or entity that has 1 or more employees 
     who are lobbyists on behalf of a client other than that 
     person or entity; and
       ``(2) includes a self-employed individual who is a 
     lobbyist.
       ``(c) The term `lobbyist' means a person registered under 
     section 308 of the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (2 
     U.S.C. 267) or required to be registered under any successor 
     statute.
       ``(d) The term `State' means each of the several States, 
     the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or 
     possession of the United States.''.

     SEC. ____02. AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE RULES.

       Clause 4 of rule XLIII of the Rules of the House of 
     Representatives is amended to read as follows:
       ``4. (a)(1) No Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
     Representatives shall accept a gift, knowing that such gift 
     is provided directly or indirectly by a lobbyist registered 
     under the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act or any successor 
     statute, or an agent of a foreign principal registered under 
     the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
       ``(2) The prohibition in subparagraph (1) includes the 
     following:
       ``(A) Anything provided by a lobbyist or an agent of a 
     foreign principal which is paid for, charged to, or 
     reimbursed by a client or firm of such lobbyist or agent of a 
     foreign principal.
       ``(B) Anything provided by a lobbyist or an agent of a 
     foreign principal to an entity that is maintained or 
     controlled by a Member, officer, or employee.
       ``(C) A charitable contribution (as defined in section 
     170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made by a 
     lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal on the basis of a 
     designation, recommendation, or other specification of a 
     Member, officer, or employee (not including a mass mailing or 
     other solicitation directed to a broad category of persons or 
     entities).
       ``(D) A contribution or other payment by a lobbyist or an 
     agent of a foreign principal to a legal expense fund 
     established for the benefit of a Member, officer, or 
     employee.
       ``(E) A charitable contribution (as defined in section 
     170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made by a 
     lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal in lieu of an 
     honorarium to a Member, officer, or employee.
       ``(F) A financial contribution or expenditure made by a 
     lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal relating to a 
     conference, retreat, or similar event, sponsored by or 
     affiliated with an official congressional organization, for 
     or on behalf of Members, officers, or employees.
       ``(3) The following are not gifts subject to the 
     prohibition in subparagraph (1):
       ``(A) Anything for which the recipient pays the market 
     value, or does not use and promptly returns to the donor.
       ``(B) A contribution, as defined in the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) that is lawfully 
     made under that Act, or attendance at a fundraising event 
     sponsored by a political organization described in section 
     527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(C) Food or refreshments of nominal value offered other 
     than as part of a meal.
       ``(D) Benefits resulting from the business, employment, or 
     other outside activities of the spouse of a Member, officer, 
     or employee if such benefits are customarily provided to 
     others in similar circumstances.
       ``(E) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued 
     participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan 
     maintained by a former employer.
       ``(F) Informational materials that are sent to the office 
     of a Member, officer, or employee in the form of books, 
     articles, periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, 
     videotapes, or other forms of communication.
       ``(4)(A) A gift given by an individual under circumstances 
     which make it clear that the gift is given for a nonbusiness 
     purpose and is motivated by a family relationship or close 
     personal friendship and not by the position of the Member, 
     officer, or employee shall not be subject to the prohibition 
     in subparagraph (1).
       ``(B) A gift shall not be considered to be given for a 
     nonbusiness purpose if the individual giving the gift seeks--
       ``(i) to deduct the value of such gift as a business 
     expense on the individual's Federal income tax return, or
       ``(ii) direct or indirect reimbursement or any other 
     compensation for the value of the gift from a client or 
     employer of such lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal.
       ``(C) In determining if the giving of a gift is motivated 
     by a family relationship or close personal friendship, at 
     least the following factors shall be considered:
       ``(i) The history of the relationship between the 
     individual giving the gift and the recipient of the gift, 
     including whether or not gifts have previously been exchanged 
     by such individuals.
       ``(ii) Whether the gift was purchased by the individual who 
     gave the item.
       ``(iii) Whether the individual who gave the gift also at 
     the same time gave the same or similar gifts to other 
     Members, officers, or employees.
       ``(b) In addition to the restriction on receiving gifts 
     from registered lobbyists, lobbying firms, and agents of 
     foreign principals provided by paragraph (a) and except as 
     provided in this rule, no Member, officer, or employee of the 
     House of Representatives shall knowingly accept a gift from 
     any other person.
       ``(c)(1) For the purpose of this clause, the term `gift' 
     means any 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.
       ``(2) A gift to the spouse or dependent of a Member, 
     officer, or employee (or a gift to any other individual based 
     on that individual's relationship with the Member, officer, 
     or employee) shall be considered a gift to the Member, 
     officer, or employee if it is given with the knowledge and 
     acquiescence of the Member, officer, or employee and the 
     Member, officer, or employee has reason to believe the gift 
     was given because of the official position of the Member, 
     officer, or employee.
       ``(d) The restrictions in paragraph (b) shall not apply to 
     the following:
       ``(1) Anything for which the Member, officer, or employee 
     pays the market value, or does not use and promptly returns 
     to the donor.
       ``(2) A contribution, as defined in the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) that is lawfully 
     made under that Act, or attendance at a fundraising event 
     sponsored by a political organization described in section 
     527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ``(3) Anything provided by an individual on the basis of a 
     personal or family relationship unless the Member, officer, 
     or employee has reason to believe that, under the 
     circumstances, the gift was provided because of the official 
     position of the Member, officer, or employee and not because 
     of the personal or family relationship. The Committee on 
     Standards of Official Conduct shall provide guidance on the 
     applicability of this clause and examples of circumstances 
     under which a gift may be accepted under this exception.
       ``(4) A contribution or other payment to a legal expense 
     fund established for the benefit of a Member, officer, or 
     employee, that is otherwise lawfully made, if the person 
     making the contribution or payment is identified for the 
     Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
       ``(5) Any food or refreshments which the recipient 
     reasonably believes to have a value of less than $20.
       ``(6) Any gift from another Member, officer, or employee of 
     the Senate or the House of Representatives.
       ``(7) Food, refreshments, lodging, and other benefits--
       ``(A) resulting from the outside business or employment 
     activities (or other outside activities that are not 
     connected to the duties of the Member, officer, or employee 
     as an officeholder) of the Member, officer, or employee, or 
     the spouse of the Member, officer, or employee, if such 
     benefits have not been offered or enhanced because of the 
     official position of the Member, officer, or employee and are 
     customarily provided to others in similar circumstances;
       ``(B) customarily provided by a prospective employer in 
     connection with bona fide employment discussions; or
       ``(C) provided by a political organization described in 
     section 527(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in 
     connection with a fundraising or campaign event sponsored by 
     such an organization.
       ``(8) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued 
     participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan 
     maintained by a former employer.
       ``(9) Informational materials that are sent to the office 
     of the Member, officer, or employee in the form of books, 
     articles, periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, 
     videotapes, or other forms of communication.
       ``(10) Awards or prizes which are given to competitors in 
     contests or events open to the public, including random 
     drawings.
       ``(11) Honorary degrees (and associated travel, food, 
     refreshments, and entertainment) and other bona fide, 
     nonmonetary awards presented in recognition of public service 
     (and associated food, refreshments, and entertainment 
     provided in the presentation of such degrees and 
     awards). [[Page S6934]] 
       ``(12) Donations of products from the State that the Member 
     represents that are intended primarily for promotional 
     purposes, such as display or free distribution, and are of 
     minimal value to any individual recipient.
       ``(13) Food, refreshments, and entertainment provided to a 
     Member or an employee of a Member in the Member's home State, 
     subject to reasonable limitations, to be established by the 
     Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
       ``(14) An item of little intrinsic value such as a greeting 
     card, baseball cap, or a T shirt.
       ``(15) Training (including food and refreshments furnished 
     to all attendees as an integral part of the training) 
     provided to a Member, officer, or employee, if such training 
     is in the interest of the House of Representatives.
       ``(16) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at 
     death.
       ``(17) Any item, the receipt of which is authorized by the 
     Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, the Mutual Educational and 
     Cultural Exchange Act, or any other statute.
       ``(18) Anything which is paid for by the Federal 
     Government, by a State or local government, or secured by the 
     Government under a Government contract.
       ``(19) A gift of personal hospitality of an individual, as 
     defined in section 109(14) of the Ethics in Government Act.
       ``(20) Free attendance at a widely attended event permitted 
     pursuant to paragraph (e).
       ``(21) Opportunities and benefits which are--
       ``(A) available to the public or to a class consisting of 
     all Federal employees, whether or not restricted on the basis 
     of geographic consideration;
       ``(B) offered to members of a group or class in which 
     membership is unrelated to congressional employment;
       ``(C) offered to members of an organization, such as an 
     employees' association or congressional credit union, in 
     which membership is related to congressional employment and 
     similar opportunities are available to large segments of the 
     public through organizations of similar size;
       ``(D) offered to any group or class that is not defined in 
     a manner that specifically discriminates among Government 
     employees on the basis of branch of Government or type of 
     responsibility, or on a basis that favors those of higher 
     rank or rate of pay;
       ``(E) in the form of loans from banks and other financial 
     institutions on terms generally available to the public; or
       ``(F) in the form of reduced membership or other fees for 
     participation in organization activities offered to all 
     Government employees by professional organizations if the 
     only restrictions on membership relate to professional 
     qualifications.
       ``(22) A plaque, trophy, or other memento of modest value.
       ``(23) Anything for which, in exceptional circumstances, a 
     waiver is granted by the Committee on Standards of Official 
     Conduct.
       ``(e)(1) Except as prohibited by paragraph (a), a Member, 
     officer, or employee may accept an offer of free attendance 
     at a widely attended convention, conference, symposium, 
     forum, panel discussion, dinner, viewing, reception, or 
     similar event, provided by the sponsor of the event, if--
       ``(A) the Member, officer, or employee participates in the 
     event as a speaker or a panel participant, by presenting 
     information related to Congress or matters before Congress, 
     or by performing a ceremonial function appropriate to the 
     Member's, officer's, or employee's official position; or
       ``(B) attendance at the event is appropriate to the 
     performance of the official duties or representative function 
     of the Member, officer, or employee.
       ``(2) A Member, officer, or employee who attends an event 
     described in subparagraph (1) may accept a sponsor's 
     unsolicited offer of free attendance at the event for an 
     accompanying individual if others in attendance will 
     generally be similarly accompanied or if such attendance is 
     appropriate to assist in the representation of the House of 
     Representatives.
       ``(3) Except as prohibited by paragraph (a), a Member, 
     officer, or employee, or the spouse or dependent thereof, may 
     accept a sponsor's unsolicited offer of free attendance at a 
     charity event, except that reimbursement for transportation 
     and lodging may not be accepted in connection with the event.
       ``(4) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `free 
     attendance' may include waiver of all or part of a conference 
     or other fee, the provision of local transportation, or the 
     provision of food, refreshments, entertainment, and 
     instructional materials furnished to all attendees as an 
     integral part of the event. The term does not include 
     entertainment collateral to the event, or food or 
     refreshments taken other than in a group setting with all or 
     substantially all other attendees.
       ``(f) No Member, officer, or employee may accept a gift the 
     value of which exceeds $250 on the basis of the personal 
     relationship exception in paragraph (d)(3) or the close 
     personal friendship exception in section 106(d) of the 
     Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1994 unless the Committee on 
     Standards of Official Conduct issues a written determination 
     that one of such exceptions applies.
       ``(g)(1) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is 
     authorized to adjust the dollar amount referred to in 
     paragraph (c)(5) on a periodic basis, to the extent necessary 
     to adjust for inflation.
       ``(2) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall 
     provide guidance setting forth reasonable steps that may be 
     taken by Members, officers, and employees, with a minimum of 
     paperwork and time, to prevent the acceptance of prohibited 
     gifts from lobbyists.
       ``(3) When it is not practicable to return a tangible item 
     because it is perishable, the item may, at the discretion of 
     the recipient, be given to an appropriate charity or 
     destroyed.
       ``(h)(1)(A) Except as prohibited by paragraph (a), a 
     reimbursement (including payment in kind) to a Member, 
     officer, or employee for necessary transportation, lodging 
     and related expenses for travel to a meeting, speaking 
     engagement, factfinding trip or similar event in connection 
     with the duties of the Member, officer, or employee as an 
     officeholder shall be deemed to be a reimbursement to the 
     House of Representatives and not a gift prohibited by this 
     paragraph, if the Member, officer, or employee--
       ``(i) in the case of an employee, receives advance 
     authorization, from the Member or officer under whose direct 
     supervision the employee works, to accept reimbursement, and
       ``(ii) discloses the expenses reimbursed or to be 
     reimbursed and the authorization to the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives within 30 days after the travel is completed.
       ``(B) For purposes of clause (A), events, the activities of 
     which are substantially recreational in nature, shall not be 
     considered to be in connection with the duties of a Member, 
     officer, or employee as an officeholder.
       ``(2) Each advance authorization to accept reimbursement 
     shall be signed by the Member or officer under whose direct 
     supervision the employee works and shall include--
       ``(A) the name of the employee;
       ``(B) the name of the person who will make the 
     reimbursement;
       ``(C) the time, place, and purpose of the travel; and
       ``(D) a determination that the travel is in connection with 
     the duties of the employee as an officeholder and would not 
     create the appearance that the employee is using public 
     office for private gain.
       ``(3) Each disclosure made under subparagraph (1)(A) of 
     expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed shall be signed by 
     the Member or officer (in the case of travel by that Member 
     or officer) or by the Member or officer under whose direct 
     supervision the employee works (in the case of travel by an 
     employee) and shall include--
       ``(A) a good faith estimate of total transportation 
     expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(B) a good faith estimate of total lodging expenses 
     reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(C) a good faith estimate of total meal expenses 
     reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(D) a good faith estimate of the total of other expenses 
     reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
       ``(E) a determination that all such expenses are necessary 
     transportation, lodging, and related expenses as defined in 
     this paragraph; and
       ``(F) in the case of a reimbursement to a Member or 
     officer, a determination that the travel was in connection 
     with the duties of the Member or officer as an officeholder 
     and would not create the appearance that the Member or 
     officer is using public office for private gain.
       ``(4) For the purposes of this paragraph, the term 
     `necessary transportation, lodging, and related expenses'--
       ``(A) includes reasonable expenses that are necessary for 
     travel--
       ``(i) for a period not exceeding 4 days including travel 
     time within the United States or 7 days in addition to travel 
     time outside the United States; and
       ``(ii) within 24 hours before or after participation in an 
     event in the United States or within 48 hours before or after 
     participation in an event outside the United States,
     unless approved in advance by the Committee on Standards of 
     Official Conduct;
       ``(B) is limited to reasonable expenditures for 
     transportation, lodging, conference fees and materials, and 
     food and refreshments, including reimbursement for necessary 
     transportation, whether or not such transportation occurs 
     within the periods described in clause (A);
       ``(C) does not include expenditures for recreational 
     activities or entertainment other than that provided to all 
     attendees as an integral part of the event; and
       ``(D) may include travel expenses incurred on behalf of 
     either the spouse or a child of the Member, officer, or 
     employee, subject to a determination signed by the Member or 
     officer (or in the case of an employee, the Member or officer 
     under whose direct supervision the officer or employee works) 
     that the attendance of the spouse or child is appropriate to 
     assist in the representation of the House of Representatives.
       ``(5) The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall make 
     available to the public all advance authorizations and 
     disclosures of reimbursement filed pursuant to subparagraph 
     (1) as soon as possible after they are received.
       ``(h) In this rule:
       ``(1) The term `client' means any person or entity that 
     employs or retains another person for financial or other 
     compensation to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of that 
     person or entity. A person or entity whose employees act as 
     lobbyists on its own behalf is both a client and an employer 
     of such employees. In the case of a coalition or association 
     that employs or retains other persons to conduct lobbying 
     activities, the client is-- [[Page S6935]] 
       ``(A) the coalition or association and not its individual 
     members when the lobbying activities are conducted on behalf 
     of its membership and financed by the coalition's or 
     association's dues and assessments; or
       ``(B) an individual member or members, when the lobbying 
     activities are conducted on behalf of, and financed 
     separately by, 1 or more individual members and not by the 
     coalition's or association's dues and assessments.
       ``(2) The term `lobbying firm'--
       ``(A) means a person or entity that has 1 or more employees 
     who are lobbyists on behalf of a client other than that 
     person or entity; and
       ``(B) includes a self-employed individual who is a 
     lobbyist.
       ``(3) The term `lobbyist' means a person registered under 
     section 308 of the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act (2 
     U.S.C. 267) or required to be registered under any successor 
     statute.
       ``(4) The term `State' means each of the several States, 
     the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or 
     possession of the United States.''.

     SEC. ____03. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

       (a) Amendments to the Ethics in Government Act.--Section 
     102(a)(2)(B) of the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. 102, 
     App. 6) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
     following: ``Reimbursements accepted by a Federal agency 
     pursuant to section 1353 of title 31, United States Code, or 
     deemed accepted by the Senate or the House of Representatives 
     pursuant to rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate or 
     clause 4 of rule XLIII of the Rules of the House of 
     Representatives shall be reported as required by such statute 
     or rule and need not be reported under this section.''.
       (b) Repeal of Obsolete Provision.--Section 901 of the 
     Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (2 U.S.C. 31-2) is repealed.
       (c) Senate Provisions.--
       (1) Authority of the committee on rules and 
     administration.--The Senate Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, on behalf of the Senate, may accept gifts 
     provided they do not involve any duty, burden, or condition, 
     or are not made dependent upon some future performance by the 
     United States. The Committee on Rules and Administration is 
     authorized to promulgate regulations to carry out this 
     section.
       (2) Food, refreshments, and entertainment.--The rules on 
     acceptance of food, refreshments, and entertainment provided 
     to a Member of the Senate or an employee of such a Member in 
     the Member's home State before the adoption of reasonable 
     limitations by the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     shall be the rules in effect on the day before the effective 
     date of this title.
       (d) House Provision.--The rules on acceptance of food, 
     refreshments, and entertainment provided to a Member of the 
     House of Representatives or an employee of such a Member in 
     the Member's home State before the adoption of reasonable 
     limitations by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 
     shall be the rules in effect on the day before the effective 
     date of this title.

     SEC. ____04. EXERCISE OF CONGRESSIONAL RULEMAKING POWERS.

       Sections ____01, ____02, and ____03 (c) and (d) are enacted 
     by Congress--
       (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
     and the House of Representatives, respectively, and 
     accordingly, they shall be considered as part of the rules of 
     each House, respectively, or of the House to which they 
     specifically apply, and such rules shall supersede other 
     rules only to the extent that they are inconsistent 
     therewith; and
       (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
     either House to change such rules (insofar as they relate to 
     that House) at any time and in the same manner and to the 
     same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, as I promised I would do several weeks 
ago, today I am submitting, on behalf of myself, Senators Feingold, 
Lautenberg, and Baucus, the tough, comprehensive gift ban that some of 
us have been pushing for over 2 years. These are exactly the same gift 
ban provisions that were developed last year by House-Senate conferees, 
but that were blocked at the end of last Congress, and again at the 
beginning of this Congress, by opponents of reform. They are the same 
gift ban provisions that were contained in last year's conference 
report on S. 349, the Lobbying Disclosure Act. So that there is no 
confusion, let me repeat that: these are exactly the same gift ban 
provisions that were contained in the conference report on the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act last year, and that have been supported by the vast 
majority of Democrats and Republicans on this Senate floor last year.
  I do not need to rehearse the long history on this legislation, which 
made an arduous journey, with many twists and turns, through both 
houses of Congress last year, and through a House-Senate conference 
committee, only to be stopped by a Senate filibuster at the end of the 
103d Congress. I intend to continue to press it forward, and I also 
intend to support efforts to enact promptly the lobbying disclosure 
bill to which this gift ban was attached in the last Congress. I 
believe that because the registration bill contains tighter definitions 
of who exactly is a lobbyist than current law, and actually imposes 
sanctions against representatives of special interests who fail to 
comply with the new rules, they work most effectively in tandem. But I 
also believe that because there will likely again be attempts to direct 
seemingly high-minded, though false, criticisms against the purported 
``chilling effect'' on lobbying of the lobbying disclosure bill--a 
charge that is preposterous on its face, since the bill simply requires 
paid, professional lobbyists to register, it doesn't limit their 
activity--there should be another straight up or down debate and vote 
on the gift ban itself. These attacks, as they did last year, could 
come from the lobbying community, from right-wing radio talk show 
hosts, and others, even though the language which they claimed to be 
concerned about had been deleted altogether from the bill. I urge my 
colleagues to support both without weakening changes.
  Today I am filing the gift ban as a proposed amendment to S. 652, the 
telecommunications legislation that is currently pending on the Senate 
Calendar. This has been one of the most heavily lobbied pieces of 
legislation in recent memory, from all sides, so it is appropriate that 
this be a vehicle for the gift ban--and perhaps also for the lobbying 
disclosure legislation to which it was attached last year.
  I intend to bring the gift ban amendment to a vote in the Senate soon 
after we turn to this bill. If the Senate does not soon turn to the 
telecommunications bill, then I intend to continue to survey other 
appropriate vehicles for such an amendment. I suspect that the decision 
not to turn the telecommunications bill immediately following the 
budget resolution might have been affected by our decision to move 
forward now on the gift ban legislation as a proposed amendment to it. 
But whatever the vehicle, I intend at the very least to prompt a full 
and thorough debate on this issue, and I hope to get it voted on soon.
  I hope that this time, unlike in January, the Majority Leader and my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle will support this important 
legislation, as they publicly indicated they would do last year. In 
fact, last year 37 Republicans cosponsored these same gift ban 
provisions, but then proceeded to vote against them in January, after 
an indication from the Majority Leader that he intended to deal with 
this issue on the Senate floor this month.
  Americans are watching closely to see if the new majority in Congress 
delivers on its promise of reforms. So far, they have not. This should 
not come as a surprise, since these were the same people who blocked 
major reform last year in each of these areas, solely out of a 
political concern that Democrats might get some credit for cleaning up 
Washington. Their reform promises have rung hollow all the way along, 
and they ring hollow today.
  In a recent editorial the Washington Post again challenged the new 
congressional majority to enact a number of tough, sweeping political 
reform measures that have been opposed by congressional incumbents and 
bogged down for a number of years. They observed that the simplest and 
most straightforward of these reforms is legislation to impose a tough, 
sweeping ban on the gifts, meals, vacation travel and other perks--the 
same provisions that were killed at the end of the last Congress.
  The President is prepared to sign this bill now, and I think we could 
and should have it on his desk within a few weeks. The President called 
for lobbying reform and a gift ban in his State of the Union Address, 
and yet my colleagues in the majority have blocked our bill and put 
forward no alternative. As I observed 2 weeks ago on this floor, our 
majority colleagues, frozen like deer in headlights, refuse to move 
forward on the gift ban. Enthusiastic about slashing free or reduced-
price lunches for children, opponents wither when it comes to 
eliminating free lunches for Members of Congress. This bitter irony has 
not been lost on the American people. Passing the gift ban, and tough 
new lobby disclosure rules [[Page S6936]] developed in tough bipartisan 
negotiations last year led by Senator Levin, is one of the best ways we 
have to begin to restore the confidence of Americans in the integrity 
of the legislative process.
  It is long past time for enactment of this gift ban. This amendment 
would help to significantly change the Washington culture of special 
interest perks, favors, meals, travel, and gifts being provided to 
Members of Congress. There is no doubt that these kinds of gifts and 
other favors from lobbyists have contributed to Americans deepening 
distrust of government. They give the appearance of special access and 
influence, eroding public confidence in Congress as an institution and 
in each Member individually as a representative of his or her 
constituents.
  This legislation imposes a sweeping ban on gifts, meals, 
entertainment and lobbyist-sponsored vacation travel, and imposes tough 
new restrictions on non-lobbyists. It should be passed and enacted this 
month, if necessary over the objections of those would-be reformers who 
have talked so much about reform out of one side of their mouths, while 
opposing it out of the other.
  I point out again that these are the same provisions that were 
opposed by the Majority Leader when we offered them as an amendment to 
the Congressional Accountability Act in January. At that time, the 
Majority Leader indicated that he intended to have an alternative gift 
ban bill on the floor in May. Now it is well into May, and nothing has 
happened.
  No hearings have been held, no bills have been introduced, nothing on 
gift reform is scheduled for floor consideration anytime soon. In the 
other body, it is basically the same story. The question today is: 
Where is the Majority Leader and where are the Republicans with their 
version of gift reform? Since 37 of them, including the Majority 
Leader, already cosponsored, at the end of last year, the same 
provisions that we offered in January, and will offer again soon to an 
appropriate vehicle here on the floor, what changes do they intend to 
try to make in the bill?
  Do they again intend, as some did last year, to try to gut the 
provisions on charitable vacation travel to golf and tennis hotspots 
like Vail, Aspen, Florida, or the Bahamas, where Members and their 
families are wined and dined at the expense of lobbyists and major 
corporations? I hope not, but I expect that
 such an attempt will be made.

  Do they again intend to try to hollow out gift ban reforms by just 
slightly lowering the existing thresholds for expensive meals, sports 
tickets, and other gifts paid for by special interests here in 
Washington, so they can say they are for reform? Again, I hope not, but 
is possible.
  Do they really intend in this climate to try to stall their way 
through another Congress, or worse to sneak something through Congress 
that's not real reform? I hope not, and I will do everything I can to 
make sure that doesn't happen.
  It is not by change that the so-called ``Contract with America'' 
contains not a word about real reforms like these that would clean up 
the way Washington works. It is because there is seemingly no 
commitment to the real reform agenda of campaign reform, lobby reform, 
and the gift ban on the part of the new Congressional majority. In the 
other body, proponents of the gift ban announced recently that they 
have again been forced to resort to complex procedural strategies to 
circumvent the normal committee process by trying to discharge gift ban 
legislation, in order to even get a vote on it in that body.
  The real standard for gift ban reform is the tight, tough bill that 
Senator Levin and I and others put forward in January, the same 
provisions as were contained in last year's House-Senate conference 
report which after months of struggling had been supported by 
overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both houses--until push came to 
shove at the end of the Congress and the bill was killed in the face of 
a massive disinformation campaign by the Republican leadership and 
their friends in the right-wing talk show circuit.
  In the past there have been those on both sides of the aisle who have 
opposed a ban of gifts and other perks. But in the end, overwhelming 
majorities of both parties have voted for this legislation. And 
overwhelming majorities would support it again. We have waited over two 
years for a bill that should have taken us two weeks to enact into law. 
I intend to fight to make sure this bill is enacted into law this year.
  Since it was decided that Members and the Ethics Committee would have 
needed some time to digest these new rules, last year's bill would not 
have become effective until the end of this month. There is no good 
reason that we cannot have new rules in place to meet the deadline. As 
those of us who have pushed this issue forward for two years said 
before the congressional recess, we are tired of waiting. The American 
people are tired of waiting. It is long past time to act on tough new 
gift reforms.
  The Senate should act, now, on tough, sweeping gift ban reforms. And 
we should follow it up with comprehensive lobbying registration and 
campaign finance laws. That is the real reform agenda. That is what 
Americans are really looking for as they press for changes that will 
clean up Washington. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I invite them to cosponsor our amendment which embodies a tough 
gift ban bill when it comes to the floor.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I would like to commend the Senator from 
Minnesota for his persistence on this issue and join with him in once 
again pointing out the need for legislation that will fundamentally 
reform the way Congress deals with the thousands and thousands of gifts 
and other perks that are offered to Members each year from individuals, 
lobbyists and associations that seek special access and influence on 
Capitol Hill.
  It has been roughly one year since this body approved a strong, 
bipartisan gift ban bill by a vote of 95 to 4. 95 to 4. That bill would 
have strictly limited the acceptance of gifts from lobbyists and 
provided only a few limited exceptions for non-lobbyists. One would 
think, that on a 95 to 4 vote, that this body, invigorated by the new 
Republican leadership supposedly determined to change the way 
Washington does business and to bring government back to the people, 
would have no problem raising this issue in the new Congress and 
passing another strong bipartisan piece of legislation.
  But here we are, several months into the new Congress, and still no 
action from the Republican leadership.
  Perhaps some of our Republican colleagues feel that there is not 
really a problem with gift-giving to elected officials and their 
staffs.
  Maybe they feel that the American people really do have faith and 
trust in their government and their elected officials.
  But the fact is, once you leave the greater Washington area, you 
cannot help but immediately sense the anger and the cynicism with which 
the American people have come to look upon this institution. They do 
not see the beltway as a simple road encircling this city--they have 
come to see it almost as a boundary separating the rest of America from 
a kingdom of special interest influence known as Washington, D.C.
  Mr. President, I firmly believe that there should not be an easier 
vote to cast than a vote to ban the gift-giving practice. I have said 
before that this should be a no-brainer. I have held nearly 175 
listening sessions in my home State of Wisconsin in the past 2\1/2\ 
years. Thousands of constituents have raised their concerns and 
expressed their views on a wide spectrum of issues at these listening 
sessions. There is almost always disagreement about these issues, 
whether it is government spending, trade agreements, gun control or 
reforming our health and welfare systems.
  But on this issue of gift-giving, the audience sentiment is almost 
always in perfect unanimity. They are disgusted that this practice is 
permitted. Without exception, every time I raise the idea of a gift ban 
I cannot even get a full sentence out before the audience breaks out in 
spontaneous applause and approval of free gifts and trips.
  I have said it now a number of times here on the floor and I will say 
it again: the Wisconsin State Legislature has had a strict gift 
prohibition in place for over 20 years now and it has worked fine. In 
fact, the Wisconsin Legislature is regarded as one of the most ethical 
legislative bodies in the [[Page S6937]] country. And as has been 
pointed out by my former colleague in the Senate, Congressman Tom 
Barrett, no one in the Wisconsin State Legislature has starved to death 
because of the gift ban.
  Well, Mr. President, there are several of us who are determined to 
bring this practice to an end. Acting on a tough gift ban will 
fundamentally reform the way Congress deals with the many gifts and 
other perks that are offered to members each year, and would mark a sea 
change in the way Washington, D.C. does business.
  But we need to do more than simply pass though gift ban legislation. 
We need to strengthen our current lobbying disclosure laws that are 
riddled with gaping loopholes. We need to shut down the revolving door 
that allows public officials to trade on their government experience 
and contracts for lucrative post-employment in the private sector.
  But most importantly, Mr. President, most importantly we need to pass 
comprehensive campaign finance reform that will level the playing field 
between incumbents and challengers, and diminish the role of special 
interest money that has come to dominate our election system. It is my 
sincere hope that this body will begin this process of reform by acting 
on this measure at the earliest possibility.
  These are all links in a chain of special interest influence that is 
wrapped around the U.S. Capitol. Each link of the chain must be broken 
and this would mark a dramatic first step.

                          ____________________