[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4456. Ms. ROSEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee 
on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. PROHIBITION ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED POLITICAL CONSULTING 
                   FIRMS AND POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND MARKETING 
                   FIRMS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Cabinet member.--The term ``Cabinet Member'' means--
       (A) an individual serving in a position at level I of the 
     Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United 
     States Code; and
       (B) any other individual who occupies a position designated 
     by the President as a Cabinet-level position.
       (2) Financial relationship.--The term ``financial 
     relationship'' means any relationship in which financial 
     compensation is derived directly or indirectly from a 
     pecuniary interest.
       (3) Official advertisement.--The term ``official 
     advertisement'' means an advertisement sponsored by the 
     executive branch to communicate any policy priority of a 
     Government entity, including of a Federal agency or 
     department or a presidential administration.
       (4) Political advertising and marketing firm.--The term 
     ``political advertising and marketing firm'' means a 
     professional business that is eligible for a contract with 
     the Government that is dedicated to the creation and 
     execution of promotional materials and marketing for the 
     clients of the business, including the Government.
       (5) Political consulting firm.--The term ``political 
     consulting firm'' means a professional services company that 
     is eligible for a contract with the Government to provide 
     advice, feedback, strategy, and skills.
       (6) Senior executive political appointee.--The term 
     ``senior executive political appointee'' means an individual 
     who is--
       (A) employed in a position described in sections 5312 
     through 5316 of title 5, United States Code (relating to the 
     Executive Schedule);
       (B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, 
     or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as 
     defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of 
     section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code; or
       (C) employed in a position of a confidential or policy-
     determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 
     213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulation.
       (7) Special government employee.--The term ``special 
     Government employee'' means a special Government employee, as 
     defined in section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code, 
     who is employed in the executive branch.
       (b) Prohibition on Taxpayer-funded Political Consulting 
     Firms and Political Advertising and Marketing Firms.--A 
     Cabinet Member may not use any funds authorized or 
     appropriated by Federal law to hire a political consulting 
     firm or political advertising and marketing firm to develop 
     and disseminate any official advertisement relating to the 
     position of the Cabinet Member, the agency or department of 
     which the Cabinet Member is the head, or the official duties 
     of the Cabinet Member if--
       (1) the Cabinet Member is an officer or employee of the 
     political consulting firm or political advertising and 
     marketing firm;
       (2) the Cabinet Member has a financial relationship with 
     the political consulting firm or political advertising and 
     marketing firm; or
       (3) any senior executive political appointee or special 
     Government employee who reports to the Cabinet Member or who 
     is employed by the agency or department of which the Cabinet 
     Member is the head has a financial relationship with the 
     political consulting firm or political advertising and 
     marketing firm.
       (c) Prohibition on Expediting Open Bidding for Official 
     Advertisements.--Except as otherwise provided by existing 
     Federal law, a Cabinet Member shall, when entering into a 
     contract for an official advertisement, comply with all 
     applicable requirements related to the full and open 
     competitive procedures required under chapter 33 of title 41, 
     United States Code, and part 6 of the Federal Acquisition 
     Regulation.
       (d) Prohibition on Self-promotion Through Official 
     Advertisements.--A Cabinet Member may not use any official 
     advertisement for the primary purpose of self-promotion.
                                 ______