[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12692-S12693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          LOBBYING DISCLOSURE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1997

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 283, S. 758.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 758) to make certain technical corrections to 
     the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at the 
appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 758) was read a third time and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 758

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND REFERENCE.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Lobbying 
     Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1997''.
       (b) Reference.--Whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal 
     is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a 
     section or other provision, the reference shall be considered 
     to be made to a section or other provision of the Lobbying 
     Disclosure Act of 1995.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF COVERED EXECUTIVE BRANCH 
                   OFFICIAL.

       Section 3(3)(F) (2 U.S.C. 1602(3)(F)) is amended by 
     striking ``7511(b)(2)'' and inserting ``7511(b)(2)(B)''.

     SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF EXCEPTION TO LOBBYING 
                   CONTACT.

       (a) Certain Communications.--Section 3(8)(B)(ix) (2 U.S.C. 
     1602(8)(B)(ix)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon 
     the following: ``, including any communication compelled by a 
     Federal contract grant, loan, permit, or license''.
       (b) Definition of ``Public Official''.--Section 3(15)(F) (2 
     U.S.C. 1602(15)(F)) is amended by inserting ``, or a group of 
     governments acting together as an international 
     organization'' before the period.

     SEC. 4. ESTIMATES BASED ON TAX REPORTING SYSTEM.

       (a) Section 15(a).--Section 15(a) (2 U.S.C. 1610(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``A registrant'' and inserting ``A person, 
     other than a lobbying firm,''; and
       (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
       ``(2) for all other purposes consider as lobbying contacts 
     and lobbying activities only--
       ``(A) lobbying contacts with covered legislative branch 
     officials (as defined in section 3(4)) and lobbying 
     activities in support of such contacts; and
       ``(B) lobbying of Federal executive branch officials to the 
     extent that such activities are influencing legislation as 
     defined in section 4911(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986.''.
       (b) Section 15(b).--Section 15(b) (2 U.S.C. 1610(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``A registrant that is subject to'' and 
     inserting ``A person, other than a lobbying firm, who is 
     required to account and does account for lobbying 
     expenditures pursuant to''; and
       (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
       ``(2) for all other purposes consider as lobbying contacts 
     and lobbying activities only--
       ``(A) lobbying contacts with covered legislative branch 
     officials (as defined in section 3(4)) and lobbying 
     activities in support of such contacts; and
       ``(B) lobbying of Federal executive branch officials to the 
     extent that amounts paid or costs incurred in connection with 
     such activities are not deductible pursuant to section 162(e) 
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.

[[Page S12693]]

       (c) Section 5(c).--Section 5(c) (2 U.S.C. 1604(c)) is 
     amended by striking paragraph (3).

     SEC. 5. EXEMPTION BASED ON REGISTRATION UNDER LOBBYING ACT.

       Section 3(h) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 
     (22 U.S.C. 613(h)) is amended by striking ``is required to 
     register and does register'' and inserting ``has engaged in 
     lobbying activities and has registered''.

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