[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 422 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 422
To establish the Office of Public Integrity as an independent office
within the legislative branch of the Government, to reduce the duties
of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives and the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 11, 2007
Mr. Meehan (for himself, Mr. Shays, and Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Rules and
the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Office of Public Integrity as an independent office
within the legislative branch of the Government, to reduce the duties
of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives and the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY.
There is established, as an independent office within the
legislative branch of the Government, the Office of Public Integrity
(hereinafter referred to as the ``Office'').
SEC. 2. DIRECTOR.
(a) Appointment of Director.--(1) The Office shall be headed by a
Director who shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the minority
leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The selection
and appointment of the Director shall be without regard to political
affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of
the Office.
(2)(A) No individual who has been a registered lobbyist under the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 or an agent of a foreign government
under the Foreign Agents Registration Act within 5 years of the date of
appointment shall be eligible for appointment as the Director.
(B) The Director may not have been a Member of the House of
Representatives or Senator.
(C) The Director shall possess demonstrated integrity,
independence, and public credibility and shall have training or
experience in law enforcement, the judiciary, or as a member of a
Federal, State, or local ethics enforcement agency.
(b) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the directorship shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(c) Term of Office.--The Director shall serve for a term of 5 years
and may be reappointed.
(d) Removal.--The Director may be removed by a majority of the
appointing authority for--
(1) disability that substantially prevents the Director
from carrying out his duties;
(2) incompetence;
(3) neglect of duty; or
(4) malfeasance, including a felony or conduct involving
moral turpitude.
In removing the Director, a statement of the reasons for removal shall
be provided in writing to the Director by the members who voted for
removing the Director and shall be made public.
(e) Compensation.--The Director shall be compensated at the annual
rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule
under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 3. DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE OFFICE.
(a) Duties.--The Office is authorized--
(1) to receive, monitor, and oversee financial disclosure
and other reports filed by Members of Congress and officers and
employees of Congress under the Ethics in Government Act of
1978, and reports filed by registered lobbyists under the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;
(2) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member,
officer, or employee of the House of Representatives or the
Senate, of any rule or other standard of conduct applicable to
the conduct of such Member, officer, or employee under
applicable House or Senate rules in the performance of his
duties or the discharge of his responsibilities;
(3) to present a case of probable ethics violations to the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives or the Senate Select Committee on Ethics;
(4) to make recommendations to the Committee on Standards
of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives or the
Senate Select Committee on Ethics that it report to the
appropriate Federal or State authorities any substantial
evidence of a violation by a Member, officer, or employee of
the House of Representatives or the Senate of any law
applicable to the performance of his duties or the discharge of
his responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in an
investigation by the Office;
(5) to provide information and informal guidance to
Members, officers and employees of the House of Representatives
and the Senate regarding any rules and other standards of
conduct applicable to such individuals in their official
capacities, and develop and carry out periodic educational
briefings for Members, officers, and employees of the House of
Representatives on those laws, rules, regulations, or other
standards;
(6) to give consideration to the request of any Member,
officer, or employee of the House of Representatives or the
Senate for a formal advisory opinion or other formal ruling,
subject to the review of the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct of the House of Representatives or the Senate Select
Committee on Ethics, as applicable, with respect to the general
propriety of any current or proposed conduct of such Member,
officer, or employee and, with appropriate deletions to assure
the privacy of the individual concerned, to publish such
opinion for the guidance of other Members, officers, and
employees of the House of Representatives or the Senate;
(7) to conduct periodic and random reviews and audits of
reports filed with it to ensure compliance with all applicable
laws and rules; and
(8) to provide informal guidance to registrants under the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 of their responsibilities under
such Act.
(b) Powers.--
(1) Obtaining information.--Upon request of the Office, the
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall
furnish information deemed necessary by the Director to enable
the Office to carry out its duties.
(2) Referrals to the department of justice.--Whenever the
Director has reason to believe that a violation of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 may have occurred, he shall refer that
matter to the Department of Justice for it to investigate.
(3) General audits.--The Director shall have the authority
to conduct general audits of filings under the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995.
SEC. 4. INVESTIGATIONS AND INTERACTION WITH THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT OR THE SENATE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON ETHICS.
(a) Initiation of Enforcement Matters.--(1) An investigation may be
initiated by the filing of a complaint with the Office by a Member of
Congress or an outside complainant, or by the Office on its own
initiative, based on any information in its possession. The Director
shall not accept a complaint concerning a Member of Congress within 60
days of an election involving such Member.
(2) In the case of a complaint that is filed, the Director shall
within 30 days make an initial determination as to whether the
complaint should be dismissed or whether there are sufficient grounds
to conduct an investigation. The subject of the complaint shall be
provided by the Director with an opportunity during the 30-day period
to challenge the complaint. In any case where the Director decides to
dismiss a complaint, the Director can determine the complaint to be
frivolous.
(3) Whenever the Director determines that a complaint is frivolous,
the Director shall not accept any future complaint filed by that same
person and the complainant shall be required to pay for the costs of
the Office resulting from such complaint. The Director may refer the
matter to the Department of Justice to collect such costs.
(4) For any investigation conducted by the Office at its own
initiative, the Director shall make a preliminary determination of
whether there are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation.
Before making that determination, the subject of the investigation
shall be provided by the Director with an opportunity to submit
information to the Director that there are not sufficient grounds to
conduct an investigation.
(5) Whenever the Director determines that there are sufficient
grounds to conduct an investigation--
(A) the Director shall notify the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct or the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, as
applicable, of this determination;
(B) the applicable committee may overrule the determination
of the Director if, within 10 legislative days--
(i) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote
of two-thirds of the full committee votes to overrule
the determination of the Director;
(ii) the committee issues a public report detailing
its reasoning for overruling the Director;
(iii) the vote of each member of the committee on
such roll-call vote is included in the report; and
(iv) dissenting members are allowed to issue their
own report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with
the majority vote; and
(C) if the applicable committee votes to overrule the
determination of the Director pursuant to subparagraph (B), the
Director may publish and make available to the general public a
report detailing the reasons that the Director concluded there
were sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation.
(b) Conducting Investigations.--(1) If the Director determines that
there are sufficient grounds to conduct an investigation and his
determination is not overruled under subsection (a)(5), the Director
shall conduct an investigation to determine if probable cause exists
that a violation occurred.
(2) As part of an investigation, the Director may--
(A) administer oaths;
(B) issue subpoenas;
(C) compel the attendance of witnesses and the production
of papers, books, accounts, documents, and testimony; and
(D) take the deposition of witnesses.
(3) If a person disobeys or refuses to comply with a subpoena, or
if a witness refuses to testify to a matter, he may be held in contempt
of Congress.
(c) Presentation of Case to House Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct or Senate Select Committee on Ethics.--(1) If the
Director determines, upon conclusion of an investigation, that probable
cause exists that an ethics violation has occurred, the Director shall
notify the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives or the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, as
applicable, of this determination.
(2) The applicable committee may overrule the determination of the
Director if, within 10 legislative days--
(A) the committee by an affirmative, roll-call vote of two-
thirds of the full committee votes to overrule the
determination of the Director;
(B) the committee issues a public report detailing its
reasoning for overruling the Director;
(C) the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-
call vote is included in the report; and
(D) dissenting members are allowed to issue their own
report detailing their reasons for disagreeing with the
majority vote.
(3) If the applicable committee votes to overrule the determination
of the Director pursuant to paragraph (2), the Director may publish and
make available to the general public a report detailing the reasons
that he concluded there were sufficient grounds to present such case to
the committee.
(4)(A) If the Director determines there is probable cause that an
ethics violation has occurred and the Director's determination is not
overruled, the Director shall present the case and evidence to the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives or the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, as
applicable, to hear and make a determination pursuant to its rules.
(B) The applicable committee shall vote upon whether the individual
who is the subject of the investigation has violated any rules or other
standards of conduct applicable to that individual in his official
capacity. Such votes shall be a roll-call vote of the full committee, a
quorum being present. The committee shall issue a public report which
shall include the vote of each member of the committee on such roll-
call vote. Dissenting members may issue their own report detailing
their own reasons for disagreeing with the majority vote.
(f) Sanctions.--Whenever the Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct of the House of Representatives or the Senate Select Committee
on Ethics finds that an ethics violation has occurred, the Director
shall recommend appropriate sanctions to the committee and whether a
matter should be referred to the Department of Justice for
investigation.
SEC. 5. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW AND IN THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) Rules of the House.--(1) Paragraphs (a) through (e) of clause 3
of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives are amended to
read as follows:
``(a) The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has the
following functions:
``(1) The committee may recommend to the House from time to
time such administrative actions as it may consider appropriate
to establish or enforce standards of official conduct for
Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, officers, and
employees of the House. A letter of reproval or other
administrative action of the committee pursuant to an
investigation by the Office of Public Integrity referred to in
subparagraph (2) shall only be issued or implemented as a part
of a report required by such subparagraph.
``(2) The committee may hear, in an adjudicatory capacity,
a case presented to it by the Director of the Office of Public
Integrity (hereinafter referred to in this clause as the
`Director') of an alleged violation by a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House of the
Code of Official Conduct or of a rule or other standard of
conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee in the performance
of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities. After
notice and hearing (unless the right to such a hearing is
waived by the Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer,
or employee), the committee shall report to the House its
findings of fact and recommendations, if any, for the final
disposition of any such investigation and such action as the
committee may consider appropriate in the circumstances.
``(3) After the Director determines that there are
sufficient grounds to pursue an investigation of any individual
referred to in subparagraph (2) or that there is probable cause
to believe that a violation has occurred, the committee may
overrule this determination by a two-thirds vote of the
committee within 10 legislative days after being so notified by
the Director. Any such vote shall be recorded and made
available to the public. If the committee reverses the
Director's determination to proceed with the case, then the
committee shall file in a timely manner a report to the House
and made available to the general public explaining its
decision. Committee members who voted against reversing the
Director's determination may file their own public reports on
the matter.
``(4) The committee may report to the appropriate Federal
or State authorities, either with the approval of the House or
by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the
committee, any substantial evidence of a violation by a Member,
Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the
House, of a law applicable to the performance of his duties or
the discharge of his responsibilities that may have been
disclosed to the committee by the Director as the result of an
investigation.
``(b)(1) Unless approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of
its members, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct may not
report a resolution, report, or recommendation relating to the official
conduct of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or
employee of the House.
``(2) A member of the committee shall be ineligible to participate
as a member of the committee in a committee proceeding relating to the
member's official conduct. Whenever a member of the committee is
ineligible to act as a member of the committee under the preceding
sentence, the Speaker shall designate a Member, Delegate, or Resident
Commissioner from the same political party as the ineligible member to
act in any proceeding of the committee relating to that conduct.
``(3) A member of the committee may disqualify himself from
participating in an investigation of the conduct of a Member, Delegate,
Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House upon the
submission in writing and under oath of an affidavit of
disqualification stating that the member cannot render an impartial and
unbiased decision in the case in which the member seeks to be
disqualified. If the committee approves and accepts such affidavit of
disqualification, the chairman shall so notify the Speaker and request
the Speaker to designate a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner
from the same political party as the disqualifying member to act in any
proceeding of the committee relating to that case.
``(4) Information or testimony received, or the contents of a
complaint or the fact of its filing, may not be publicly disclosed by
any committee or staff member unless specifically authorized in each
instance by a vote of the full committee.
``(c)(1) Notwithstanding clause 2(g)(1) of rule XI, each meeting of
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct or a subcommittee
thereof shall occur in executive session unless the committee or
subcommittee, by an affirmative vote of a majority of its members,
opens the meeting to the public.
``(2) Notwithstanding clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI, each adjudicatory
hearing of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall be held
in open session unless the committee, in open session by an affirmative
vote of a majority of its members, closes all or part of the remainder
of the hearing on that day to the public.
``(d) Before a member, officer, or employee of the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct may have access to information that is
confidential under the rules of the committee, the following oath (or
affirmation) shall be executed:
```I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not
disclose, to any person or entity outside the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct, any information received in the
course of my service with the committee, except as authorized
by the committee or in accordance with its rules.'.
Copies of the executed oath shall be retained by the Clerk as part of
the records of the House. This paragraph establishes a standard of
conduct within the meaning of paragraph (a)(2). Breaches of
confidentiality shall be investigated by the Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct and appropriate action shall be taken.''.
(2) Paragraphs (f) through (q) of clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives is amended by redesignating paragraphs
(f) through (i) as paragraphs (e) through (h), respectively, and by
striking paragraphs (j) through (q), and in redesignated paragraph (g)
by striking ``any hearing held by an adjudicatory subcommittee or''
both places it appears.
(3) Clause 5(a)(4) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is repealed.
(b) Standing Rules of the Senate.--[Language to be inserted by the
Senate.]
(c) Changes in Ethics in Government Act of 1978.--(1) The following
provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 are each amended as
follows:
(A) In section 101(h), strike ``the congressional ethics
committees'' and insert ``the Director of the Office of Public
Integrity''.
(B) In section 103(h)(1)(A), strike ``Clerk of the House of
Representatives'' each place it appears and insert ``Director
of the Office of Public Integrity''.
(C) In section 103(h)(1)(A), strike ``Secretary of the
Senate'' each place it appears and insert ``Director of the
Office of Public Integrity''.
(D) In section 103(i), strike ``Clerk of the House of
Representatives or Secretary of the Senate, as the case may
be'' and insert ``Director of the Office of Public Integrity''.
(E) In section 103, strike subsection (j) and redesignate
subsection (k) as subsection (j).
(F) In subsection (j) (as redesignated), strike ``Clerk of
the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate'' and
insert ``Director of the Office of Public Integrity'' and
strike ``Clerk and the Secretary'' both places it appears and
insert ``Director of the Office of Public Integrity''.
(G) In section 105, strike ``Clerk of the House of
Representatives, and the Secretary of the Senate'' each place
it appears and insert ``Director of the Office of Public
Integrity''.
(H) In section 105, strike ``Clerk or the Secretary of the
Senate, as the case may be'' each place it appears and insert
``Director of the Office of Public Integrity''.
(I) In section 105, strike ``Clerk, or Secretary of the
Senate, as the case may be'' and insert ``Director of the
Office of Public Integrity''.
(J) In section 105(d), strike ``Clerk of the House of
Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate'' and insert
``Director of the Office of Public Integrity''.
(K) In section 109, strike paragraph (1) and redesignate
the succeeding paragraphs accordingly.
(L) In paragraph (2) of section 111, strike ``Select
Committee on Ethics of the Senate and the Committee on
Standards of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives,
as appropriate,'' and insert ``Director of the Office of Public
Integrity''.
(2) Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (2 U.S.C 29d) is
amended by striking ``Committee on Standards of Official Conduct'' and
inserting ``Office of Public Integrity''.
(d) Changes in Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.--
(1) Transfer of jurisdiction to office of public
integrity.--
(A) Filing of registrations.--Section 4 of the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is
amended--
(i) in subsection (a)(1), by striking
``Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the
House of Representatives'' and inserting
``Office of Public Integrity''; and
(ii) in subsection (d), by striking
``Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the
House of Representatives'' and inserting
``Office of Public Integrity''.
(B) Reports by registered lobbyists.--Section 5(a)
of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.
1604(a)) is amended by striking ``Secretary of the
Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives''
and inserting ``Office of Public Integrity''.
(C) Disclosure and enforcement.--Section 6 of the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605) is
amended by striking ``Secretary of the Senate and the
Clerk of the House of Representatives'' and inserting
``Office of Public Integrity''.
(D) Penalties.--Section 7 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1606) is amended by
striking ``Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the
House of Representatives'' and inserting ``Office of
Public Integrity''.
(E) Rules of construction.--Section 8(c) of the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1607(c)) is
amended by striking ``Secretary of the Senate or the
Clerk of the House of Representatives'' and inserting
``Office of Public Integrity''.
(F) Estimates based on tax reporting system.--
Section 15(c)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
(2 U.S.C. 1610(c)(1)) is amended by striking
``Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives'' and inserting ``Office of Public
Integrity''.
(2) Filing in electronic form.--
(A) Registrations.--Section 4 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(e) Filing in Electronic Form.--A registration required to be
filed under this section shall be filed in electronic form, in addition
to any other form that may be required by the Office of Public
Integrity.''.
(B) Reports.--Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(d) Filing in Electronic Form.--A report required to be filed
under this section shall be filed in electronic form, in addition to
any other form that may be required by the Office of Public Integrity.
The Office shall make such filings available to the public on the
Internet in a searchable database.''.
SEC. 6. FORMAL ADVISORY OPINIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS.
The Office shall have the authority to provide formal advisory
opinions and interpretations of rules and other standards of conduct
applicable to Members, officers, and employees of the House of
Representatives and the Senate. The Committee on Standards of Official
Conduct of the House of Representatives or the Senate Select Committee
on Ethics, by a two-thirds vote of the full committee may revise or
overturn any such formal ruling by the Office that is applicable to the
Members, officers, and employees of that House of Congress. Any such
vote shall be recorded and made publicly available, and shall be
accompanied by a written explanation for that action. Dissenting
members are allowed to issue their own report detailing reasons for
disagreeing with the majority vote.
SEC. 7. PROCEDURAL RULES.
(a) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall
be undertaken by the Office of any alleged violation of a law, rule,
regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of the
alleged violation; nor shall any investigation be undertaken by the
Office of any alleged violation which occurred before the third
previous Congress unless the Office determines that the alleged
violation is directly related to any alleged violation which occurred
in a more recent Congress.
(b) Disclosure.--Information or testimony received, or the contents
of a complaint or the fact of its filing, may be publicly disclosed by
the Director or by the staff of the Office only if authorized by the
Director.
SEC. 8. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Staff and Support Services.--The Director may appoint and fix
the compensation of such staff as the Director considers necessary,
including deputy directors for ethics matters relating to the House of
Representatives and to the Senate, a general counsel, and such
investigators, auditors, and other staff as he deems necessary.
(b) Applicability of Civil Service Laws.--The Director and other
members of the staff of the Office shall be appointed without regard to
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments
in the competitive service, and shall be paid without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(c) Experts and Consultants.--The Director may procure temporary
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code.
(d) Physical Facilities.--The Architect of the Capitol, in
consultation with the appropriate entities in the legislative branch,
shall locate and provide suitable office space for the operation of the
Office on a nonreimbursable basis. The facilities shall serve as the
headquarters of the Office and shall include all necessary equipment
and incidentals required for the proper functioning of the Office.
(e) Administrative Support Services and Other Assistance.--
(1) In general.--Upon the request of the Director, the
Architect of the Capitol and the Administrator of General
Services shall provide to the Director on a nonreimbursable
basis such administrative support services as the Commission
may request.
(2) Additional support.--In addition to the assistance set
forth in paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the United
States may provide the Director such services, funds,
facilities, staff, and other support services as the Director
may deem advisable and as may be authorized by law.
(f) Use of Mails.--The Office may use the United States mails in
the same manner and under the same conditions as Federal agencies and
shall, for purposes of the frank, be considered a commission of
Congress as described in section 3215 of title 39, United States Code.
(g) Printing.--For purposes of costs relating to printing and
binding, including the cost of personnel detailed from the Government
Printing Office, the Office shall be deemed to be a committee of the
Congress.
SEC. 9. EXPENSES.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) Financial and Administrative Services.--The Director may place
orders and enter into agreements for goods and services with the head
of any agency, or major organizational unit within an agency, in the
legislative or executive branch of the Government in the same manner
and to the same extent as agencies are authorized to do so under
sections 1535 and 1536 of title 31, United States Code.
(c) Witness Fees and Allowances.--Witnesses before the Office shall
be paid the same fee and mileage allowances as are paid subpoenaed
witnesses in the courts of the United States.
SEC. 10. REPORTS BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, and at the
close of the 110th Congress and at the close of each Congress
thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to each House
of Congress of the level of funding necessary for the Office to
effectively carry out its duties under the Act.
SEC. 11. TRANSFER OF RECORDS.
Ninety days after the effective date of this Act, the Office of
Public Records in the Senate and the Office of Clerk of the House of
Representatives shall transfer all records to the Office with respect
to their former duties under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 and
the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
SEC. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as provided by subsection (b) and by
section 10, this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2008.
(b) Exception.--Sections 2, 8, and 9 shall take effect upon the
date of enactment of this Act.
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