[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 INTRODUCTION OF THE TRAVEL REFORM RULE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, Chris Cox, Peter Visclosky, 
Tom Campbell and I are introducing today a resolution that would 
improve accountability in congressional travel and help encourage more 
travel related to the official business of the House.
  Congressional travel, done the right way, can greatly enhance a 
Member's knowledge of the issues, improving the quality of legislation 
and congressional oversight. Members of Congress should inspect 
important government activities at home and abroad, and share the 
knowledge they gain with their colleagues and the public.
  While the 1995 House gift ban curtailed the worst abuses of 
congressional travel, occasional reports of travel abuse continue. 
These reports have led the public to view much congressional travel as 
wasteful or unnecessary, with the detrimental effect of discouraging 
some important, legitimate trips.
  The Travel Reform Rule which we are introducing today aims to 
strengthen the House's oversight of travel by Members and staff; make 
all congressional travel records more accessible to the public; and 
ensure that the information gained through travel is more widely 
disseminated.
  The requirements of Hamilton's resolution would apply to (1) travel 
that is paid for by official House funds, except for travel to a 
Member's congressional district; (2) travel with a foreign country paid 
for by a foreign government; and (3) any other travel related to 
official duties, including that paid for by private entities.
  The Travel Reform Rule, H. Res. XXX, would require more detailed 
reports: Current House rules require Members and staff to file a report 
with the Clerk of the House for any committee-funded travel, privately-
funded travel, or for foreign government-funded foreign travel.
  For privately-funded travel, reports must include the source of funds 
paying for travel, and an estimate of the cost of transportation, food, 
lodging, and other expenses, and a determination that all such expenses 
are necessary. These reports and the reports on foreign government-
funded travel must be filed within 30 days of the end of a trip, though 
House rules include no penalty for failure to do so.
  Committee-funded foreign travel reports must disclose the countries 
visited, the amount of per diem and transportation furnished, and the 
total foreign currencies and/or appropriated funds expended. These 
reports must be filed within 60 days of travel.

  The Hamilton resolution would improve and harmonize reporting 
requirements.
  First, the resolution would require for all travel a substantive 
report to the Clerk of the House on the relation of the travel to the 
official business of the House, including a detailed itinerary and 
policy findings and recommendations.
  Second, reports on travel funded by a nonprofit organization would 
have to include copies of the organization's reports to the Internal 
Revenue Service on its contributions and expenditures. This provision 
is intended to shed light on any shell foundations set up to fund 
congressional travel.
  Third, the resolution requires identification of the funding entity, 
including: any pertinent information that could be gathered in the case 
of a private funding source, an estimate of the costs of travel 
provided by a foreign government, and if transportation is provided by 
the Department of Defense, the report must include an estimate of the 
cost of equivalent commercial transportation.
  Under the resolution, the Clerk of the House would notify the House 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (the Ethics Committee) of 
any failure to meet these requirements.
  Improve public disclosure: The Hamilton resolution would require the 
Clerk of the House to publish in the Congressional Record and on the 
Internet a compilation of travel reports for each calendar quarter, as 
well as an annual summary of all House travel. Currently, the Clerk is 
only required to publish reports for government-funded foreign travel, 
and there is not Internet requirement.
  Require advance authorization from Ethics Committee: Travel funded by 
private sources would require advance authorization from the House 
Ethics Committee. Currently, there is not prior authorization 
requirement for Members, and for staff, such travel by may be approved 
by Members without consultation with the Ethics Committee. Prior 
authorization will take the guess work out of travel, and ensure for 
the House and the public that all private trips are legitimately 
related to House business.
  Restrict perks: Members and staff would be prohibited from accepting 
first class airfare, as well as meals and lodging in excess of the 
federal employee per diem rate, unless previously authorized by the 
Ethics Committee. Moreover, travel by spouses or family members would 
be limited to trips where other guests are also permitted to bring 
their families.
  I commend this resolution to my colleagues' attention.

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