[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 13 (Friday, January 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ETHICS

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, the Honest Leadership and Open Government 
Act of 2007 calls for the Select Committee on Ethics of the U.S. Senate 
to issue an annual report not later than January 31 of each year 
providing information in certain categories describing its activities 
for the preceding year. Reported below is the information describing 
the committee's activities in 2009 in the categories set forth in the 
act:

       (1) The number of alleged violations of Senate rules 
     received from any source, including the number raised by a 
     Senator or staff of the Committee: 99. (In addition, 26 
     alleged violations from the previous year were carried into 
     2009.)
       (2) The number of alleged violations that were dismissed--
       (A) For lack of subject matter jurisdiction or in which, 
     even if the allegations in the complaint are true, no 
     violation of Senate rules would exist: 58. (This figure 
     includes 12 matters that were carried into 2009.)
       (B) Because they failed to provide sufficient facts as to 
     any material violation of the Senate rules beyond mere 
     allegation or assertion: 45. (This figure includes 5 matters 
     that were carried into 2009.)
       (3) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry: 13. (This 
     figure includes 8 matters from the previous year carried into 
     2009.)
       (4) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry that resulted 
     in an adjudicatory review: 0.
       (5) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry and the 
     Committee dismissed the matter for lack of substantial merit: 
     8. (This figure includes matters in which the Committee 
     subsequently lost jurisdiction. It also includes two letters 
     of public dismissal.)
       (6) The number of alleged violations for which the 
     Committee staff conducted a preliminary inquiry and the 
     Committee issued private or public letters of admonition: 1.
       (7) The number of matters resulting in a disciplinary 
     sanction: 0.
       (8) Any other information deemed by the Committee to be 
     appropriate to describe its activities in the previous year:
       In 2009, the Committee staff conducted 10 Member code of 
     conduct training sessions and 5 new Member sessions; 19 
     employee code of conduct training sessions; 12 Member and 
     committee office campaign briefings; 27 ethics seminars for 
     Member DC offices, state offices, and Senate committees; 3 
     private sector ethics briefings; and 7 international ethics 
     briefings.
       In 2009, the Committee staff handled 12,667 telephone 
     inquiries for ethics advice and guidance.
       In 2009, the Committee wrote 996 ethics advisory letters 
     and responses including, but not limited to, 752 travel and 
     gifts matters (Senate Rule 35) and 111 conflict of interest 
     matters (Senate Rule 37).
       In 2009, the Committee issued 3,309 letters concerning 
     financial disclosure filings by Senators, Senate staff and 
     Senate candidates and reviewed 1,663 reports.

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