[House Report 110-162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 110-162
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LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2007
_______
May 21, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Conyers, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 2317]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 2317) to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to
require registered lobbyists to file quarterly reports on
contributions bundled for certain recipients, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do
pass.
CONTENTS
Page
The Amendment.................................................... 2
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 3
Background and Need for the Legislation.......................... 3
Hearings......................................................... 4
Committee Consideration.......................................... 4
Committee Votes.................................................. 4
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 5
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................ 5
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................ 5
Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 6
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 7
Advisory on Earmarks............................................. 7
Section-by-Section Analysis...................................... 7
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 8
Additional Views................................................. 11
The Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. QUARTERLY REPORTS BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS ON CONTRIBUTIONS
BUNDLED FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
(2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(d) Quarterly Reports on Contributions Bundled For Certain
Recipients.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the end of
the quarterly period beginning on the first day of January,
April, July, and October of each year, each registered lobbyist
who bundles 2 or more contributions made to a covered recipient
in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 for such covered
recipient during such quarterly period shall file a report with
the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives containing--
``(A) the name of the registered lobbyist;
``(B) in the case of an employee, his or her
employer; and
``(C) the name of the covered recipient to whom the
contribution is made, and to the extent known the
aggregate amount of such contributions (or a good faith
estimate thereof) within the quarter for the covered
recipient.
``(2) Exclusion of certain information.--In filing a report
under paragraph (1), a registered lobbyist shall exclude from
the report any information described in paragraph (1)(C) which
is included in any other report filed by the registered
lobbyist with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the
House of Representatives under this Act.
``(3) Requiring submission of information prior to filing
reports.--Not later than 25 days after the end of a period for
which a registered lobbyist is required to file a report under
paragraph (1) which includes any information described in such
section with respect to a covered recipient, the registered
lobbyist shall transmit by certified mail to the covered
recipient involved a statement containing--
``(A) the information that will be included in the
report with respect to the covered recipient; and
``(B) the source of each contribution included in
the aggregate amount referred to in paragraph (1)(C)
which the registered lobbyist bundled for the covered
recipient during the period covered by the report and
the amount of the contribution attributable to each
such source.
``(4) Definition of registered lobbyist.--For purposes of
this subsection, the term `registered lobbyist' means a person
who is registered or is required to register under paragraph
(1) or (2) of section 4(a), or an individual who is required to
be listed under section 4(b)(6) or subsection (b).
``(5) Definition of bundled contribution.--For purposes of
this subsection, a registered lobbyist `bundles' a contribution
if--
``(A) the contribution is received by a registered
lobbyist for, and forwarded by a registered lobbyist
to, the covered recipient to whom the contribution is
made; or
``(B) the contribution will be or has been credited
or attributed to the registered lobbyist through
records, designations, recognitions or other means of
tracking by the covered recipient to whom the
contribution is made.
``(6) Other definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `contribution' has the meaning given
such term in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
(2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), except that such term does not
include a contribution in an amount which is less than
$200;
``(B) the terms `candidate', `political committee',
and `political party committee' have the meaning given
such terms in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
(2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.);
``(C) the term `covered recipient' means a Federal
candidate, an individual holding Federal office, a
leadership PAC, or a political party committee; and
``(D) the term `leadership PAC' means, with respect
to an individual holding Federal office, an
unauthorized political committee which is associated
with such individual, except that such term shall not
apply in the case of a political committee of a
political party.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to the second quarterly period described in section
5(d)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (as added by subsection
(a)) which begins after the date of the enactment of this Act and each
succeeding quarterly period.
Purpose and Summary
Federal lobbying is a multi-billion dollar industry, and
spending to influence Members of Congress and Executive Branch
officials has continued to increase over the last decade. While
the Lobbying Disclosure Act was intended to promote
transparency and accountability in the Federal lobbying
industry, it falls far short of a complete solution. Its
shortcomings were highlighted during the 109th Congress by the
conviction of a high-profile lobbyist, as well as a number of
highly publicized incidents involving and the provision of
privately-funded travel, free meals, and lavish entertainment
by lobbyists to Members of Congress, congressional staff, and
some Executive Branch officials in exchange for favorable
treatment for clients with specific interests before the
Government.
H.R. 2317, the ``Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007,'' helps
to bring greater transparency to one aspect of lobbying that
has been of concern, the practice of ``bundling'' campaign
contributions. ``Bundling'' is the term used to describe when a
lobbyist arranges with a candidate to raise and receive credit
for specific contributions that are collected or coordinated by
the lobbyist. Under current law, there is no requirement that
this type of bundling be disclosed to the public.
H.R. 2317 would require disclosure by registered lobbyists
of certain types of bundled contributions. By linking campaign
finance and lobbying activities, the bill is intended to
provide a clearer picture of who is participating in this
practice.
Background and Need for the Legislation
H.R. 2317 requires the lobbyist to disclose the Member of
Congress for whom they have aggregated contributions in the
Lobbying Disclosure Report. The consolidation of all lobbying
activity within this one report will improve transparency,
making it easier for the public to better assess the
intersection of fundraising and public policy. As Justice Louis
Brandeis famously observed, ``Sunlight is said to be the best
disinfectant.'' \1\
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\1\ Louis D. Brandeis, Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use
It 92 (1914).
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Specifically, H.R. 2317 would require a ``registered
lobbyist'' \2\ who ``bundles'' two or more contributions made
to a ``covered recipient'' \3\ in an aggregate amount in excess
of $5,000 in a calendar quarter to file a report 45 days after
the end of each quarter with the Secretary of the Senate and
the Clerk of the House. The report must include the name of the
lobbyist, the employer of the lobbyist, the name of the covered
recipient to whom the contribution is made, and, to the extent
known, the aggregate amount of the contributions bundled within
the quarter for such recipient (or a good faith estimate of the
amount).
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\2\ The bill defines ``registered lobbyist'' to include (1) an
individual who is required to register as a lobbyist under the Lobbying
Disclosure Act (LDA), (2) a lobbying organization which is required to
register under the LDA, or (3) the employees of a lobbying organization
who must be listed as lobbyists under the LDA.
\3\ The bill defines ``covered recipient'' to include a Federal
candidate, a Federal officeholder, a leadership PAC, or a political
party committee. The terms ``contribution,'' ``candidate,'' ``political
committee,'' and ``political party committee'' have the same meanings
as in the Federal Election Campaign Act. The term ``leadership PAC''
means an unauthorized political committee associated with a Federal
officeholder, but does not include a political party committee.
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H.R. 2317 requires a lobbyist to give a covered recipient
of a bundled contribution prior notice, by certified mail, of
the lobbyist's intent to report it. Notice must be given not
later than 25 days after the close of the quarterly reporting
period; the report is due 45 days after the close of the
reporting period. The prior notice is to contain the
information that the lobbyist is planning to include in the
report, as well as the source and amount of each contribution
bundled. This notice enables the covered recipient to raise any
questions with the lobbyist about the information, and to take
any appropriate action, prior to the public filing of the
information.
H.R. 2317 defines a ``bundled contribution'' as either (1):
a contribution that a registered lobbyist receives for, and
forwards to, the ``covered recipient'' to whom the contribution
is made, or (2) a contribution that is credited or attributed
to the registered lobbyist through some means of tracking by
the covered recipient to whom the contribution is made.
Contributions can come to a covered recipient in a number of
ways, including by mail, through a website, and as a result of
fundraising events. Examples of crediting or tracking include
having donors put a lobbyist's name in the memo of a check, or
using a code that has been pre-assigned to the lobbyist, to
track contributions from those attending a fundraising event
sponsored or arranged by the lobbyist.
Hearings
On March 1, 2007, the Subcommittee on the Constitution,
Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties held a legislative hearing to
examine the issue of lobbying reform. The hearing focused on
the current state of the lobbying industry, the need for
reform, and the extent to which the Senate-passed proposal
(S.1) addressed that need. Witness testimony was provided by
Kenneth A. Gross, a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom; Sarah Dufendach, Chief of Legislative Affairs at Common
Cause; Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow for Governance Studies at
the Brookings Institution; and Bradley A. Smith, former
Chairman of the Federal Election Commission.
Committee Consideration
On May 16, 2007, the Committee met in open session and
ordered the bill, H.R. 2317, favorably reported with an
amendment, by a voice vote, a quorum being present.
Committee Votes
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that there
were no recorded votes during the Committee's consideration of
H.R. 2317.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the
descriptive portions of this report.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax
expenditures.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with
respect to the bill, H.R. 2317, the following estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, May 18, 2007.
Hon. John Conyers, Jr., Chairman,
Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2317, the Lobbying
Transparency Act of 2007.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis,
who can be reached at 226-2860.
Sincerely,
Peter R. Orszag,
Director.
Enclosure
cc:
Honorable Lamar S. Smith.
Ranking Member
H.R. 2317--Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007.
H.R. 2317 would amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
to require registered lobbyists to file new quarterly reports
with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives. The reports would provide information on
contributions that the lobbyists receive and forward to federal
candidates and other political entities. Subject to the
availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that
implementing the bill would increase administrative costs of
the House of Representatives and the Senate by less than
$500,000 a year. Enacting the bill would not affect direct
spending or revenues.
The bill contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined
in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no
costs on State, local, or tribal governments.
H.R. 2317 would impose private-sector mandates, as defined
in UMRA, on the lobbying industry. The bill would require
registered lobbyists that bundle contributions to submit
additional reports and disclosures to the Secretary of the
Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The bill
also would require those lobbyists to notify the recipients of
those bundled contributions about their intent to file a report
on such contributions. Based on information from the Secretary
of the Senate and the Clerk of the House, CBO estimates that
the aggregate direct cost of all of those mandates would fall
below the annual threshold established by UMRA for private-
sector mandates ($131 million in 2007, adjusted annually for
inflation).
H.R. 2317 would require any registered lobbyist who bundles
two or more contributions in excess of $5,000 in a calendar
quarter made to a covered recipient, as defined in the bill, to
file a report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of
the House of Representatives 45 days after the end of each such
quarter. The report would include information about the
lobbyist, the name of the recipient to whom the contribution is
made, and an estimate of the aggregate amount of contributions
bundled in the quarter for the recipient. Such information
would have to be filed only if the information is incremental
to the information reported by registered lobbyists in certain
other reports. Currently, registered lobbyists must file
semiannual disclosure reports.
Because the bill would require quarterly (rather than
semiannual) reporting, it would increase the number of reports
filed by registered lobbyists. Since such entities already
collect the information requested in the disclosure reports,
however, CBO estimates that the incremental costs associated
with the new reporting requirements in the bill would be
minimal.
The bill also would require registered lobbyists to send
each recipient of a bundled contribution a notice of the
lobbyists' intent to file a disclosure. The notice would be
sent in the quarter that the report is to be filed. The notice
would contain the information that the lobbyist intends to
report and an explanation of the aggregate contribution along
with the names of the contributors. Such notices would have to
be sent by certified mail. CBO estimates that the costs
associated with those mailings would not be substantial
relative to the annual threshold established by UMRA for
private-sector mandates.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Deborah Reis
(for federal costs), who may be reached at 226-2860, Elizabeth
Cove (for the State and local impact), who may be reached at
225-3220, and Craig Cammaratta (for the private-sector impact),
who may be reached at 226-2940. This estimate was approved by
Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget
Analysis.
Performance Goals and Objectives
The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H.R.
2317 is intended to create a system requiring registered
lobbyists to disclose contributions they have arranged for
``covered recipients.''
Constitutional Authority Statement
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for
this legislation in article I, section 5, clause 2, and article
I, section 8, clauses 3 and 18 of the Constitution.
Advisory on Earmarks
In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, H.R. 2317 does not contain any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of Rule XXI.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Sec. 1. Short Title. Section 1 sets forth the bill's short
title as the ``Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007.''
Sec. 2. Quarterly Reports by Registered Lobbyists on
Contributions Bundled for Certain Recipients. Section 2 amends
section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C.
Sec. 1604, to add a new subsection (d) pertaining to quarterly
reports on contributions bundled for certain recipients. New
subsection (d)(1) provides that not later than 45 days after
the end of the quarterly period beginning on the first day of
January, April, July, and October of each year, each registered
lobbyist who bundles 2 or more contributions made to a covered
recipient in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 for such
covered recipient during such quarterly period shall file a
report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the
House of Representatives. The report must contain: (1) the name
of the registered lobbyist; (2) in the case of an employee, his
or her employer; and (3) the name of the covered recipient to
whom the contribution is made, and to the extent known the
aggregate amount of such contributions (or a good faith
estimate thereof) within the quarter for the covered recipient.
New subsection (d)(2) requires a registered lobbyist to
exclude from the report any information described in new
subsection (d)(1)(c) (pertaining to the covered recipient) that
is included in any other report filed by the registered
lobbyist with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the
House of Representatives under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
New subsection (d)(3) provides that not later than 25 days
after the end of a period for which a registered lobbyist is
required to file a report under paragraph (1) that includes any
information described in such section with respect to a covered
recipient, the registered lobbyist shall transmit by certified
mail to the covered recipient a statement. The statement must
contain: (1) the information that will be included in the
report with respect to the covered recipient; and (2) the
source of each contribution included in the aggregate amount
referred to in paragraph (1)(c) (pertaining to the covered
recipient) which the registered lobbyist bundled for the
covered recipient during the period covered by the report, and
the amount of the contribution attributable to each such
source.
New subsection (d)(4) defines ``registered lobbyist'' as a
person who is registered or is required to register under
paragraph (1) or (2) of section 4(a) of the Lobbying Disclosure
Act, or an individual who is required to be listed under
section 4(b)(6) or section 5(b) of that Act.
Under new subsection (d)(5), a registered lobbyist
``bundles'' a contribution if: (1) the contribution is received
by a registered lobbyist for, and forwarded by a registered
lobbyist to, the covered recipient to whom the contribution is
made; or (2) the contribution will be or has been credited or
attributed to the registered lobbyist through records,
designations, recognitions, or other means of tracking by the
covered recipient to whom the contribution is made.
This definition for bundling covers various recognized ways
in which lobbyists are known to bundle contributions for
candidates. It includes, for example, situations where a
lobbyist physically collects checks for a candidate and
delivers them to the candidate. It includes situations where a
lobbyist is given a title or other recognition to reflect a
commitment by the lobbyist to raise a certain amount of
contributions, and where the lobbyist is given a code or other
means of tracking so that the donors can make clear to the
candidate that the lobbyist should be given credit for raising
the funds, and funds are in fact raised using the tracking
means. It includes situations where the lobbyist raises
specific contributions for a candidate in connection with
hosting a fund-raising event for the candidate, which the
candidate tracks. And it includes situations where a lobbyist
arranges for contributions to be given to a candidate along
with information that allows the candidate to track that the
lobbyists raised the money, and the candidate tracks and
credits the lobbyist for doing so.
These examples are intended to convey the essence of
bundling, which is the mutual awareness and agreement between
the lobbyist and the covered recipient that the lobbyist is
gathering the contributions. In this respect, bundling is
distinguished from more generalized expressions of support for
a candidate that may lead others to decide independently to
make contributions.
New subsection (d)(6) provides that ``contribution,''
``candidate,'' ``political committee,'' and ``political party
committee'' have the meaning given such terms in the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971, with one qualification. The term
``contribution'' does not include a contribution in an amount
which is less than $200. New subsection (d)(6) also provides
that the term ``covered recipient'' means a Federal candidate,
an individual holding Federal office, a leadership PAC, or a
political party committee. The provision also defines the term
``leadership PAC'' to mean, with respect to an individual
holding Federal office, an unauthorized political committee
which is associated with that individual, except that such term
shall not apply in the case of a political committee of a
political party.
Subsection 2(b) sets forth the Act's effective date. The
Act applies with respect to the second quarterly period
described in section 5(d)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 (as added by subsection (a)) that begins after the date of
the enactment of this Act and each succeeding quarterly period.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1995
* * * * * * *
SEC. 5. REPORTS BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(d) Quarterly Reports on Contributions Bundled For Certain
Recipients.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the
end of the quarterly period beginning on the first day
of January, April, July, and October of each year, each
registered lobbyist who bundles 2 or more contributions
made to a covered recipient in an aggregate amount
exceeding $5,000 for such covered recipient during such
quarterly period shall file a report with the Secretary
of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives containing--
(A) the name of the registered lobbyist;
(B) in the case of an employee, his or her
employer; and
(C) the name of the covered recipient to
whom the contribution is made, and to the
extent known the aggregate amount of such
contributions (or a good faith estimate
thereof) within the quarter for the covered
recipient.
(2) Exclusion of certain information.--In filing a
report under paragraph (1), a registered lobbyist shall
exclude from the report any information described in
paragraph (1)(C) which is included in any other report
filed by the registered lobbyist with the Secretary of
the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives under this Act.
(3) Requiring submission of information prior to
filing reports.--Not later than 25 days after the end
of a period for which a registered lobbyist is required
to file a report under paragraph (1) which includes any
information described in such section with respect to a
covered recipient, the registered lobbyist shall
transmit by certified mail to the covered recipient
involved a statement containing--
(A) the information that will be included
in the report with respect to the covered
recipient; and
(B) the source of each contribution
included in the aggregate amount referred to in
paragraph (1)(C) which the registered lobbyist
bundled for the covered recipient during the
period covered by the report and the amount of
the contribution attributable to each such
source.
(4) Definition of registered lobbyist.--For
purposes of this subsection, the term ``registered
lobbyist'' means a person who is registered or is
required to register under paragraph (1) or (2) of
section 4(a), or an individual who is required to be
listed under section 4(b)(6) or subsection (b).
(5) Definition of bundled contribution.--For
purposes of this subsection, a registered lobbyist
``bundles'' a contribution if--
(A) the contribution is received by a
registered lobbyist for, and forwarded by a
registered lobbyist to, the covered recipient
to whom the contribution is made; or
(B) the contribution will be or has been
credited or attributed to the registered
lobbyist through records, designations,
recognitions or other means of tracking by the
covered recipient to whom the contribution is
made.
(6) Other definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``contribution'' has the
meaning given such term in the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.),
except that such term does not include a
contribution in an amount which is less than
$200;
(B) the terms ``candidate'', ``political
committee'', and ``political party committee''
have the meaning given such terms in the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
431 et seq.);
(C) the term ``covered recipient'' means a
Federal candidate, an individual holding
Federal office, a leadership PAC, or a
political party committee; and
(D) the term ``leadership PAC'' means, with
respect to an individual holding Federal
office, an unauthorized political committee
which is associated with such individual,
except that such term shall not apply in the
case of a political committee of a political
party.
* * * * * * *
Additional Views
During the last Congress, the committee, by a vote of 28-4,
adopted an amendment to H.R. 4975, which provided increased
disclosure by lobbyists of ``bundled'' campaign contributions
they facilitated collecting and transmitting to campaigns. This
legislation addresses the very same issue.
Indeed, regarding all the ethics reform provisions that
were reported out of the committee last Congress, Mr. Conyers
said ``I am very pleased to join in this cooperative effort . .
. Ladies and gentlemen, what we do with the manager's amendment
in short has considerably strengthened the measure before us
that is within our jurisdiction and I urge its support.'' \1\
Mr. Nadler said ``I support the manager's amendment which
advances this legislation. This legislation goes to the very
heart of this institution's credibility and integrity . . .''
\2\ And Representatives Conyers, Nadler, Scott, Watt, Lofgren,
Jackson Lee, Meehan, Wexler, Weiner, Schiff, Sanchez, Van
Hollen, and Wasserman Schultz all stated the following of that
amendment last Congress in the committee report on the
legislation: ``At the markup, we were able to develop a
bipartisan provision concerning the areas of Judiciary
Committee jurisdiction--principally the Lobbying Disclosure
Act.'' \3\
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\1\ H. Rep. 109-439 Part I (109th Congress, 2d Sess.) at 109-110.
\2\ H. Rep. 109-439 Part I (109th Congress, 2d Sess.) at 111.
\3\ H. Rep. 109-439 Part I (109th Congress, 2d Sess.) at 154
(emphasis added).
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We are pleased to see that the majority has revisited the
same issue Republicans addressed last Congress.
Lamar Smith.
Howard Coble.
Chris Cannon.