[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2317, LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 
 2007 AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2316, HONEST LEADERSHIP 
                    AND OPEN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2007

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the 
Honest Leadership Open Government Act and congratulate Speaker Pelosi 
for taking this important step in changing the way business is done in 
Washington.
  H.R. 2316 will bring real transparency to lobbyists' activities in 
order to break the corrupting influence that has been present over the 
last decade in Congress. This bill requires disclosure of lobbyists' 
contributions to members, doubles the frequency of lobbyists' 
reporting, and establishes a searchable public database of this 
disclosure information. It also increases criminal and civil penalties 
for those who violate the Lobby Disclosure Act and bans the K street 
project.
  The Honest Leadership Open Government Act includes new requirements 
for Members of Congress, including required disclosure of job 
negotiations for post-Congressional employment, and establishes a 
public database for Members' travel and financial disclosure 
information.
  This legislation is the second step in fulfilling the Democrats' 
promise to clean up Washington. In the first 100 hours of the 110th 
Congress we passed new House Rules imposing the toughest ethics 
standards ever. These rules banned gifts, meals and trips paid for by 
lobbyists. The House has also voted to deny pension benefits to Members 
of Congress convicted of corruption.
  The House of Representatives is the People's House. In order to 
ensure that we are truly responsive to and representative of the 
people, it is critical that lobbyists' do not have undue access to 
Members or influence over the legislative process. H.R. 2316 shines a 
bright light on lobbyists' activities in order to end the illegal 
practices that waste taxpayer dollars and bring disgrace to this 
institution.
  Under Democratic leadership, this Congress is moving America in a New 
Direction. Our priorities put the interests of American families ahead 
of special interests. I am proud to support this legislation today and 
urge my colleagues to do the same.

                          ____________________