[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21888]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  DEMOCRATS DELIVER ON PROMISE TO CHANGE THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE IN 
                               WASHINGTON

  (Mr. HALL of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HALL of New York. Mr. Speaker, when Democrats took control of 
Congress in January, we vowed to make some changes around here. The 
American people were rightfully disgusted by several examples of 
unethical behavior that made this entire institution look bad. The 
Senate and House have now reconciled differences between two different 
lobbying reform bills passed earlier this year. Today, the House will 
give final approval to the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.
  The bill requires greater transparency of lobbyists so they are more 
accountable to the American people. Specifically, the bill requires 
lobbyists to file their lobbying activities in an electronic database 
that is accessible to the public. It also ends the K Street Project by 
prohibiting Members of Congress and their staff from attempting to 
influence employment decisions in exchange for political access.
  Mr. Speaker, congressional Democrats said we were going to change the 
way business is done here, and today we will deliver on that promise by 
passing the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.

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