[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 1
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1
To provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 4, 2007
Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Lott, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Schumer, Ms.
Mikulski, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Webb, Mr.
Lautenberg, and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following bill; which was
read the first time; ordered read the second time and placed on the
calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Out of scope matters in conference reports.
Sec. 103. Earmarks.
Sec. 104. Availability of conference reports on the Internet.
Sec. 105. Elimination of floor privileges for former Members, Senate
officers, and Speakers of the House who are
lobbyists or seek financial gain.
Sec. 106. Ban on gifts from lobbyists.
Sec. 107. Travel restrictions and disclosure.
Sec. 108. Post employment restrictions.
Sec. 109. Public disclosure by Members of Congress of employment
negotiations.
Sec. 110. Prohibit official contact with spouse or immediate family
member of Member who is a registered
lobbyist.
Sec. 111. Influencing hiring decisions.
Sec. 112. Sense of the Senate that any applicable restrictions on
Congressional branch employees should apply
to the Executive and Judicial branches.
Sec. 113. Amounts of COLA adjustments not paid to certain Members of
Congress.
Sec. 114. Requirement of notice of intent to proceed.
Sec. 115. Effective date.
TITLE II--LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007
Sec. 201. Short title.
Subtitle A--Enhancing Lobbying Disclosure
Sec. 211. Quarterly filing of lobbying disclosure reports.
Sec. 212. Annual report on contributions.
Sec. 213. Public database of lobbying disclosure information.
Sec. 214. Disclosure by registered lobbyists of all past executive and
Congressional employment.
Sec. 215. Disclosure of lobbyist travel and payments.
Sec. 216. Increased penalty for failure to comply with lobbying
disclosure requirements.
Sec. 217. Disclosure of lobbying activities by certain coalitions and
associations.
Sec. 218. Disclosure of enforcement for noncompliance.
Sec. 219. Electronic filing of lobbying disclosure reports.
Sec. 220. Disclosure of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots Lobbying.
Sec. 221. Electronic filing and public database for lobbyists for
foreign governments.
Sec. 222. Effective date.
Subtitle B--Oversight of Ethics and Lobbying
Sec. 231. Comptroller General audit and annual report.
Sec. 232. Mandatory Senate ethics training for Members and staff.
Sec. 233. Sense of the Senate regarding self-regulation within the
Lobbying community.
Sec. 234. Annual ethics committees reports.
Subtitle C--Slowing the Revolving Door
Sec. 241. Amendments to restrictions on former officers, employees, and
elected officials of the executive and
legislative branches.
Subtitle D--Ban on Provision of Gifts or Travel by Lobbyists in
Violation of the Rules of Congress
Sec. 251. Prohibition on provision of gifts or travel by registered
lobbyists to Members of Congress and to
Congressional employees.
Subtitle E--Commission To Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of 2007
Sec. 261. Short title.
Sec. 262. Establishment of commission.
Sec. 263. Purposes.
Sec. 264. Composition of commission.
Sec. 265. Functions of Commission.
Sec. 266. Powers of Commission.
Sec. 267. Administration.
Sec. 268. Security clearances for Commission Members and staff.
Sec. 269. Commission reports; termination.
Sec. 270. Funding.
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Legislative Transparency and
Accountability Act of 2007''.
SEC. 102. OUT OF SCOPE MATTERS IN CONFERENCE REPORTS.
(a) In General.--A point of order may be made by any Senator
against consideration of a conference report that includes any matter
not committed to the conferees by either House. The point of order
shall be made and voted on separately for each item in violation of
this section.
(b) Disposition.--If the point of order against a conference report
under subsection (a) is sustained, then--
(1) the matter in such conference report shall be deemed to
have been struck;
(2) when all other points of order under this section have
been disposed of--
(A) the Senate shall proceed to consider the
question of whether the Senate should recede from its
amendment to the House bill, or its disagreement to the
amendment of the House, and concur with a further
amendment, which further amendment shall consist of
only that portion of the conference report not deemed
to have been struck;
(B) the question shall be debatable; and
(C) no further amendment shall be in order; and
(3) if the Senate agrees to the amendment, then the bill
and the Senate amendment thereto shall be returned to the House
for its concurrence in the amendment of the Senate.
(c) Supermajority Waiver and Appeal.--This section may be waived or
suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the
Members, duly chosen and sworn. An affirmative vote of \3/5\ of the
Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall be required in the
Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of
order raised under this section.
SEC. 103. EARMARKS.
The Standing Rules of the Senate are amended by adding at the end
the following:
``RULE XLIV
``earmarks
``1. In this rule--
``(1) the term `earmark' means a provision that specifies
the identity of a non-Federal entity to receive assistance and
the amount of the assistance; and
``(2) the term `assistance' means budget authority,
contract authority, loan authority, and other expenditures, and
tax expenditures or other revenue items.
``2. It shall not be in order to consider any Senate bill or Senate
amendment or conference report on any bill, including an appropriations
bill, a revenue bill, and an authorizing bill, unless a list of--
``(1) all earmarks in such measure;
``(2) an identification of the Member or Members who
proposed the earmark; and
``(3) an explanation of the essential governmental purpose
for the earmark;
is available along with any joint statement of managers associated with
the measure to all Members and made available on the Internet to the
general public for at least 48 hours before its consideration.''.
SEC. 104. AVAILABILITY OF CONFERENCE REPORTS ON THE INTERNET.
(a) In General.--
(1) Amendment.--Rule XXVIII of all the Standing Rules of
the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following:
``7. It shall not be in order to consider a conference report
unless such report is available to all Members and made available to
the general public by means of the Internet for at least 48 hours
before its consideration.''.
(2) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect 60
days after the date of enactment of this title.
(b) Implementation.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this title, the Secretary of the Senate, in consultation
with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Government Printing
Office, and the Committee on Rules and Administration, shall develop a
website capable of complying with the requirements of paragraph 7 of
rule XXVIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, as added by subsection
(a).
SEC. 105. ELIMINATION OF FLOOR PRIVILEGES FOR FORMER MEMBERS, SENATE
OFFICERS, AND SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE WHO ARE LOBBYISTS OR
SEEK FINANCIAL GAIN.
Rule XXIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by--
(1) inserting ``1.'' before ``Other'';
(2) inserting after ``Ex-Senators and Senators elect'' the
following: ``, except as provided in paragraph 2'';
(3) inserting after ``Ex-Secretaries and ex-Sergeants at
Arms of the Senate'' the following: ``, except as provided in
paragraph 2'';
(4) inserting after ``Ex-Speakers of the House of
Representatives'' the following: ``, except as provided in
paragraph 2''; and
(5) adding at the end the following:
``2. (a) The floor privilege provided in paragraph 1 shall not
apply to an individual covered by this paragraph who is--
``(1) a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign
principal; or
``(2) is in the employ of or represents any party or
organization for the purpose of influencing, directly, or
indirectly, the passage, defeat, or amendment of any
legislative proposal.
``(b) The Committee on Rules and Administration may promulgate
regulations to allow individuals covered by this paragraph floor
privileges for ceremonial functions and events designated by the
Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.''.
SEC. 106. BAN ON GIFTS FROM LOBBYISTS.
Paragraph 1(a)(2) of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate
is amended by--
(1) inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)''; and
(2) adding at the end the following:
``(B) This clause shall not apply to a gift from a
registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal.''.
SEC. 107. TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND DISCLOSURE.
(a) In General.--Paragraph 2 of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of
the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f)(1) Before a Member, officer, or employee may accept
transportation or lodging otherwise permissible under this paragraph
from any person, other than a governmental entity, such Member,
officer, or employee shall--
``(A) obtain a written certification from such person (and
provide a copy of such certification to the Select Committee on
Ethics) that--
``(i) the trip was not financed in whole, or in
part, by a registered lobbyist or foreign agent;
``(ii) the person did not accept, directly or
indirectly, funds from a registered lobbyist or foreign
agent specifically earmarked for the purpose of
financing the travel expenses;
``(iii) the trip was not planned, organized, or
arranged by or at the request of a registered lobbyist
or foreign agent; and
``(iv) registered lobbyists will not participate in
or attend the trip;
``(B) provide the Select Committee on Ethics (in the case
of an employee, from the supervising Member or officer), in
writing--
``(i) a detailed itinerary of the trip; and
``(ii) a determination that the trip--
``(I) is primarily educational (either for
the invited person or for the organization
sponsoring the trip);
``(II) is consistent with the official
duties of the Member, officer, or employee;
``(III) does not create an appearance of
use of public office for private gain; and
``(iii) has a minimal or no recreational component;
and
``(C) obtain written approval of the trip from the Select
Committee on Ethics.
``(2) Not later than 30 days after completion of travel, approved
under this subparagraph, the Member, officer, or employee shall file
with the Select Committee on Ethics and the Secretary of the Senate a
description of meetings and events attended during such travel and the
names of any registered lobbyist who accompanied the Member, officer,
or employee during the travel, except when disclosure of such
information is deemed by the Member or supervisor under whose direct
supervision the employee is employed to jeopardize the safety of an
individual or adversely affect national security. Such information
shall also be posted on the Member's official website not later than 30
days after the completion of the travel, except when disclosure of such
information is deemed by the Member to jeopardize the safety of an
individual or adversely affect national security.''.
(b) Disclosure of Noncommercial Air Travel.--
(1) Rules.--Paragraph 2 of rule XXXV of the Standing Rules
of the Senate, as amended by subsection (a), is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(g) A Member, officer, or employee of the Senate shall--
``(1) disclose a flight on an aircraft that is not licensed
by the Federal Aviation Administration to operate for
compensation or hire, excluding a flight on an aircraft owned,
operated, or leased by a governmental entity, taken in
connection with the duties of the Member, officer, or employee
as an officeholder or Senate officer or employee; and
``(2) with respect to the flight, file a report with the
Secretary of the Senate, including the date, destination, and
owner or lessee of the aircraft, the purpose of the trip, and
the persons on the trip, except for any person flying the
aircraft.''.
(2) FECA.--Section 304(b) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(7);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(8) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) in the case of a principal campaign committee of a
candidate (other than a candidate for election to the office of
President or Vice President), any flight taken by the candidate
(other than a flight designated to transport the President,
Vice President, or a candidate for election to the office of
President or Vice President) during the reporting period on an
aircraft that is not licensed by the Federal Aviation
Administration to operate for compensation or hire, together
with the following information:
``(A) The date of the flight.
``(B) The destination of the flight.
``(C) The owner or lessee of the aircraft.
``(D) The purpose of the flight.
``(E) The persons on the flight, except for any
person flying the aircraft.''.
(c) Public Availability.--Paragraph 2(e) of rule XXXV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate is amended to read as follows:
``(e) The Secretary of the Senate shall make available to the
public all disclosures filed pursuant to subparagraphs (f) and (g) as
soon as possible after they are received and such matters shall be
posted on the Member's official website but no later than 30 days after
the trip or flight.''.
SEC. 108. POST EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS.
(a) In General.--Paragraph 9 of rule XXXVII of the Standing Rules
of the Senate is amended by--
(1) designating the first sentence as subparagraph (a);
(2) designating the second sentence as subparagraph (b);
and
(3) adding at the end the following:
``(c) If an employee on the staff of a Member or on the staff of a
committee whose rate of pay is equal to or greater than 75 percent of
the rate of pay of a Member and employed at such rate for more than 60
days in a calendar year, upon leaving that position, becomes a
registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or is
employed or retained by such a registered lobbyist for the purpose of
influencing legislation, such employee may not lobby any Member,
officer, or employee of the Senate for a period of 1 year after leaving
that position.''.
(b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 60 days after
the date of enactment of this title.
SEC. 109. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS OF EMPLOYMENT
NEGOTIATIONS.
Rule XXXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``14. A Member shall not directly negotiate or have any arrangement
concerning prospective private employment until after the election for
his or her successor has been held, unless such Member files a
statement with the Secretary of the Senate, for public disclosure,
regarding such negotiations or arrangements within 3 business days
after the commencement of such negotiation or arrangement, including
the name of the private entity or entities involved in such
negotiations or arrangements, the date such negotiations or
arrangements commenced, and must be signed by the Member.''.
SEC. 110. PROHIBIT OFFICIAL CONTACT WITH SPOUSE OR IMMEDIATE FAMILY
MEMBER OF MEMBER WHO IS A REGISTERED LOBBYIST.
Rule XXXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by--
(1) redesignating paragraphs 10 through 12 as paragraphs 11
through 13, respectively; and
(2) inserting after paragraph 9, the following:
``10. (a) If a Member's spouse or immediate family member is a
registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or is
employed or retained by such a registered lobbyist for the purpose of
influencing legislation, the Member shall prohibit all staff employed
by that Member (including staff in personal, committee and leadership
offices) from having any official contact with the Member's spouse or
immediate family member.
``(b) In this paragraph, the term `immediate family member' means
the son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister of the Member.''.
SEC. 111. INFLUENCING HIRING DECISIONS.
Rule XLIII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``6. No Member shall, with the intent to influence on the basis of
partisan political affiliation an employment decision or employment
practice of any private entity--
``(1) take or withhold, or offer or threaten to take or
withhold, an official act; or
``(2) influence, or offer or threaten to influence the
official act of another.''.
SEC. 112. SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT ANY APPLICABLE RESTRICTIONS ON
CONGRESSIONAL BRANCH EMPLOYEES SHOULD APPLY TO THE
EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES.
It is the sense of the Senate that any applicable restrictions on
Congressional branch employees in this title should apply to the
Executive and Judicial branches.
SEC. 113. AMOUNTS OF COLA ADJUSTMENTS NOT PAID TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Any adjustment under section 601(a) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) (relating to the
cost of living adjustments for Members of Congress) shall not be paid
to any Member of Congress who voted for any amendment (or against the
tabling of any amendment) that provided that such adjustment would not
be made.
(b) Deposit in Treasury.--Any amount not paid to a Member of
Congress under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the Treasury for
deposit in the appropriations account under the subheading ``medical
services'' under the heading ``veterans health administration''.
(c) Administration.--The salary of any Member of Congress to whom
subsection (a) applies shall be deemed to be the salary in effect after
the application of that subsection, except that for purposes of
determining any benefit (including any retirement or insurance
benefit), the salary of that Member of Congress shall be deemed to be
the salary that Member of Congress would have received, but for that
subsection.
(d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the first
day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after February
1, 2008.
SEC. 114. REQUIREMENT OF NOTICE OF INTENT TO PROCEED.
(a) In General.--The majority and minority leaders of the Senate or
their designees shall recognize a notice of intent of a Senator who is
a member of their caucus to object to proceeding to a measure or matter
only if the Senator--
(1) submits the notice of intent in writing to the
appropriate leader or their designee; and
(2) within 3 session days after the submission under
paragraph (1), submits for inclusion in the Congressional
Record and in the applicable calendar section described in
subsection (b) the following notice:
``I, Senator __, intend to object to proceeding to __, dated __.''.
(b) Calendar.--The Secretary of the Senate shall establish for both
the Senate Calendar of Business and the Senate Executive Calendar a
separate section entitled ``Notices of Intent to Object to
Proceeding''. Each section shall include the name of each Senator
filing a notice under subsection (a)(2), the measure or matter covered
by the calendar that the Senator objects to, and the date the objection
was filed.
(c) Removal.--A Senator may have an item with respect to the
Senator removed from a calendar to which it was added under subsection
(b) by submitting for inclusion in the Congressional Record the
following notice:
``I, Senator __, do not object to proceeding to __, dated __.''.
SEC. 115. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided in this title, this title shall take
effect on the date of enactment of this title.
TITLE II--LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2007
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Legislative Transparency and
Accountability Act of 2007''.
Subtitle A--Enhancing Lobbying Disclosure
SEC. 211. QUARTERLY FILING OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REPORTS.
(a) Quarterly Filing Required.--Section 5 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (in this title referred to as the ``Act'') (2
U.S.C. 1604) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Semiannual'' and inserting ``Quarterly'';
(B) by striking ``the semiannual period'' and all
that follows through ``July of each year'' and
inserting ``the quarterly period beginning on the 20th
day of January, April, July, and October of each year
or on the first business day after the 20th day if that
day is not a business day''; and
(C) by striking ``such semiannual period'' and
inserting ``such quarterly period''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``semiannual report'' and inserting
``quarterly report'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``semiannual
filing period'' and inserting ``quarterly period'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``semiannual
period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''; and
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``semiannual
filing period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Definition.--Section 3(10) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1602)
is amended by striking ``six month period'' and inserting
``three-month period''.
(2) Registration.--Section 4 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)(A), by striking
``semiannual period'' and inserting ``quarterly
period''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking
``semiannual period'' and inserting ``quarterly
period''.
(3) Enforcement.--Section 6(a)(6) of the Act (2 U.S.C.
1605(6)) is amended by striking ``semiannual period'' and
inserting ``quarterly period''.
(4) Estimates.--Section 15 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1610) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``semiannual
period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``semiannual
period'' and inserting ``quarterly period''.
(5) Dollar amounts.--
(A) Registration.--Section 4 of the Act (2 U.S.C.
1603) is amended--
(i) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(i), by striking
``$5,000'' and inserting ``$2,500'';
(ii) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii), by
striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$10,000'';
(iii) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking
``$10,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''; and
(iv) in subsection (b)(4), by striking
``$10,000'' and inserting ``$5,000''.
(B) Reports.--Section 5 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604)
is amended--
(i) in subsection (c)(1), by striking
``$10,000'' and ``$20,000'' and inserting
``$5,000'' and ``$10,000'', respectively; and
(ii) in subsection (c)(2), by striking
``$10,000'' both places such term appears and
inserting ``$5,000''.
SEC. 212. ANNUAL REPORT ON CONTRIBUTIONS.
Section 5 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(d) Annual Report on Contributions.--Not later than 45 days after
the end of the quarterly period beginning on the first day of October
of each year referred to in subsection (a), a lobbyist registered under
section 4(a)(1), or an employee who is a lobbyist of an organization
registered under section 4(a)(2), shall file a report with the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives
containing--
``(1) the name of the lobbyist;
``(2) the employer of the lobbyist;
``(3) the name of each Federal candidate or officeholder,
leadership PAC, or political party committee, to whom a
contribution equal to or exceeding $200 was made within the
past year, and the date and amount of such contribution; and
``(4) the name of each Federal candidate or officeholder,
leadership PAC, or political party committee for whom a
fundraising event was hosted, co-hosted, or otherwise
sponsored, within the past year, and the date and location of
the event.''.
SEC. 213. PUBLIC DATABASE OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE INFORMATION.
(a) Database Required.--Section 6 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1605) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) maintain, and make available to the public over the
Internet, without a fee or other access charge, in a
searchable, sortable, and downloadable manner, an electronic
database that--
``(A) includes the information contained in
registrations and reports filed under this Act;
``(B) directly links the information it contains to
the information disclosed in reports filed with the
Federal Election Commission under section 304 of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434);
and
``(C) is searchable and sortable, at a minimum, by
each of the categories of information described in
section 4(b) or 5(b).''.
(b) Availability of Reports.--Section 6(a)(4) of the Act is amended
by inserting before the semicolon the following: ``and, in the case of
a report filed in electronic form under section 5(e), shall make such
report available for public inspection over the Internet not more than
48 hours after the report is filed''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (9)
of section 6(a) of the Act, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 214. DISCLOSURE BY REGISTERED LOBBYISTS OF ALL PAST EXECUTIVE AND
CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT.
Section 4(b)(6) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended by striking
``or a covered legislative branch official'' and all that follows
through ``as a lobbyist on behalf of the client,'' and inserting ``or a
covered legislative branch official,''.
SEC. 215. DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYIST TRAVEL AND PAYMENTS.
Section 5(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and inserting
a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) the name of each covered legislative branch official
or covered executive branch official for whom the registrant
provided, or directed or arranged to be provided, or the
employee listed as a lobbyist directed or arranged to be
provided, any payment or reimbursements for travel and related
expenses in connection with the duties of such covered
official, including for each such official--
``(A) an itemization of the payments or
reimbursements provided to finance the travel and
related expenses and to whom the payments or
reimbursements were made, including any payment or
reimbursement made with the express or implied
understanding or agreement that such funds will be used
for travel and related expenses;
``(B) the purpose and final itinerary of the trip,
including a description of all meetings, tours, events,
and outings attended;
``(C) the names of any registrant or individual
employed by the registrant who traveled on any such
trip;
``(D) the identity of the listed sponsor or
sponsors of travel; and
``(E) the identity of any person or entity, other
than the listed sponsor or sponsors of the travel,
which directly or indirectly provided for payment of
travel and related expenses at the request or
suggestion of the registrant or the employee;
``(6) the date, recipient, and amount of funds contributed
or disbursed by, or arranged by, a registrant or employee
listed as a lobbyist--
``(A) to pay the costs of an event to honor or
recognize a covered legislative branch official or
covered executive branch official;
``(B) to, or on behalf of, an entity that is named
for a covered legislative branch official or covered
executive branch official, or to a person or entity in
recognition of such official;
``(C) to an entity established, financed,
maintained, or controlled by a covered legislative
branch official or covered executive branch official,
or an entity designated by such official; or
``(D) to pay the costs of a meeting, retreat,
conference or other similar event held by, or for the
benefit of, 1 or more covered legislative branch
officials or covered executive branch officials;
except that this paragraph shall not apply to any payment or
reimbursement made from funds required to be reported under
section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 434); and
``(7) the date, recipient, and amount of any gift (that
under the rules of the House of Representatives or Senate
counts towards the one hundred dollar cumulative annual limit
described in such rules) valued in excess of $20 given by a
registrant or employee listed as a lobbyist to a covered
legislative branch official or covered executive branch
official;
``(8) for each client, immediately after listing the
client, an identification of whether the client is a public
entity, including a State or local government or a department,
agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality
controlled by a State or local government, or a private entity.
For purposes of paragraph (7), the term `gift' means a gratuity, favor,
discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item
having monetary value. The term includes gifts of services, training,
transportation, lodging, and meals, whether provided in kind, by
purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the
expense has been incurred. Information required by paragraph (5) shall
be disclosed as provided in this Act not later than 30 days after the
travel.''.
SEC. 216. INCREASED PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LOBBYING
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 7 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1606) is amended by striking
``$50,000'' and inserting ``$100,000''.
SEC. 217. DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BY CERTAIN COALITIONS AND
ASSOCIATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act (2 U.S.C.
1603(b)(3)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
``(B) participates in a substantial way in the
planning, supervision or control of such lobbying
activities;''.
(b) No Donor or Membership List Disclosure.--Section 4(b) of the
Act (2 U.S.C. 1603(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``No disclosure is required under paragraph (3)(B) if it is
publicly available knowledge that the organization that would be
identified is affiliated with the client or has been publicly disclosed
to have provided funding to the client, unless the organization in
whole or in major part plans, supervises or controls such lobbying
activities. Nothing in paragraph (3)(B) shall be construed to require
the disclosure of any information about individuals who are members of,
or donors to, an entity treated as a client by this Act or an
organization identified under that paragraph.''.
SEC. 218. DISCLOSURE OF ENFORCEMENT FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.
Section 6 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1605) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``The Secretary of the
Senate'';
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting
``; and'';
(4) after paragraph (9), by inserting the following:
``(10) provide to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on
Government Reform of the House of Representatives the aggregate
number of lobbyists and lobbying firms, separately accounted,
referred to the United States Attorney for the District of
Columbia for noncompliance as required by paragraph (8) on a
semi-annual basis''; and
(5) by inserting at the end the following:
``(b) Enforcement Report.--The United States Attorney for the
District of Columbia shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the
Senate and the Committee on Government Reform and the Committee on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives on a semi-annual basis the
aggregate number of enforcement actions taken by the Attorney's office
under this Act and the amount of fines, if any, by case, except that
such report shall not include the names of individuals or personally
identifiable information.''.
SEC. 219. ELECTRONIC FILING OF LOBBYING DISCLOSURE REPORTS.
Section 5 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(e) Electronic Filing Required.--A report required to be filed
under this section shall be filed in electronic form, in addition to
any other form. The Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House
of Representatives shall use the same electronic software for receipt
and recording of filings under this Act.''.
SEC. 220. DISCLOSURE OF PAID EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.
(a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by adding at the end of the
following: ``Lobbying activities include paid efforts to
stimulate grassroots lobbying, but do not include grassroots
lobbying.''; and
(2) by adding at the end of the following:
``(17) Grassroots lobbying.--The term `grassroots lobbying'
means the voluntary efforts of members of the general public to
communicate their own views on an issue to Federal officials or
to encourage other members of the general public to do the
same.
``(18) Paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying.--
``(A) In general.--The term `paid efforts to
stimulate grassroots lobbying' means any paid attempt
in support of lobbying contacts on behalf of a client
to influence the general public or segments thereof to
contact one or more covered legislative or executive
branch officials (or Congress as a whole) to urge such
officials (or Congress) to take specific action with
respect to a matter described in section 3(8)(A),
except that such term does not include any
communications by an entity directed to its members,
employees, officers, or shareholders.
``(B) Paid attempt to influence the general public
or segments thereof.--The term `paid attempt to
influence the general public or segments thereof' does
not include an attempt to influence directed at less
than 500 members of the general public.
``(C) Registrant.--For purposes of this paragraph,
a person or entity is a member of a registrant if the
person or entity--
``(i) pays dues or makes a contribution of
more than a nominal amount to the entity;
``(ii) makes a contribution of more than a
nominal amount of time to the entity;
``(iii) is entitled to participate in the
governance of the entity;
``(iv) is 1 of a limited number of honorary
or life members of the entity; or
``(v) is an employee, officer, director or
member of the entity.
``(19) Grassroots lobbying firm.--The term `grassroots
lobbying firm' means a person or entity that--
``(A) is retained by 1 or more clients to engage in
paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying on behalf
of such clients; and
``(B) receives income of, or spends or agrees to
spend, an aggregate of $25,000 or more for such efforts
in any quarterly period.''.
(b) Registration.--Section 4(a) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)) is
amended--
(1) in the flush matter at the end of paragraph (3)(A), by
adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of clauses (i)
and (ii), the term `lobbying activities' shall not include paid
efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying.''; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Filing by grassroots lobbying firms.--Not later than
45 days after a grassroots lobbying firm first is retained by a
client to engage in paid efforts to stimulate grassroots
lobbying, such grassroots lobbying firm shall register with the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of
Representatives.''.
(c) Separate Itemization of Paid Efforts To Stimulate Grassroots
Lobbying.--Section 5(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by--
(A) inserting after ``total amount of all income''
the following: ``(including a separate good faith
estimate of the total amount of income relating
specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots
lobbying and, within that amount, a good faith estimate
of the total amount specifically relating to paid
advertising)''; and
(B) inserting ``or a grassroots lobbying firm''
after ``lobbying firm'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting after ``total expenses''
the following: ``(including a good faith estimate of the total
amount of expenses relating specifically to paid efforts to
stimulate grassroots lobbying and, within that total amount, a
good faith estimate of the total amount specifically relating
to paid advertising)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``Subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2) shall not apply with
respect to reports relating to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots
lobbying activities.''.
(d) Good Faith Estimates and De Minimis Rules for Paid Efforts To
Stimulate Grassroots Lobbying.--
(1) In general.--Section 5(c) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(c))
is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Estimates of Income or Expenses.--For purposes of this
section, the following shall apply:
``(1) Estimates of income or expenses shall be made as
follows:
``(A) Estimates of amounts in excess of $10,0000
shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000.
``(B) In the event income or expenses do not exceed
$10,000, the registrant shall include a statement that
income or expenses totaled less than $10,000 for the
reporting period.
``(2) Estimates of income or expenses relating specifically
to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying shall be made
as follows:
``(A) Estimates of amounts in excess of $25,000
shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000.
``(B) In the event income or expenses do not exceed
$25,000, the registrant shall include a statement that
income or expenses totaled less than $25,000 for the
reporting period.''.
(2) Tax reporting.--Section 15 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1610)
is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) in lieu of using the definition of paid efforts to
stimulate grassroots lobbying in section 3(18), consider as
paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those
activities that are grassroots expenditures as defined in
section 4911(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) in lieu of using the definition of paid efforts to
stimulate grassroots lobbying in section 3(18), consider as
paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those
activities that are grassroots expenditures as defined in
section 4911(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
SEC. 221. ELECTRONIC FILING AND PUBLIC DATABASE FOR LOBBYISTS FOR
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
(a) Electronic Filing.--Section 2 of the Foreign Agents
Registration Act (22 U.S.C. 612) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(g) Electronic Filing of Registration Statements and Updates.--A
registration statement or update 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 Attorney General.''.
(b) Public Database.--Section 6 of the Foreign Agents Registration
Act (22 U.S.C. 616) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(d) Public Database of Registration Statements and Updates.--
``(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall maintain, and
make available to the public over the Internet, without a fee
or other access charge, in a searchable, sortable, and
downloadable manner, an electronic database that--
``(A) includes the information contained in
registration statements and updates filed under this
Act;
``(B) directly links the information it contains to
the information disclosed in reports filed with the
Federal Election Commission under section 304 of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434);
and
``(C) is searchable and sortable, at a minimum, by
each of the categories of information described in
section 2(a).
``(2) Accountability.--Each registration statement and
update filed in electronic form pursuant to section 2(g) shall
be made available for public inspection over the internet not
more than 48 hours after the registration statement or update
is filed.''.
SEC. 222. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle shall take
effect January 1, 2008.
Subtitle B--Oversight of Ethics and Lobbying
SEC. 231. COMPTROLLER GENERAL AUDIT AND ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) Audit Required.--The Comptroller General shall audit on an
annual basis lobbying registration and reports filed under the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 to determine the extent of compliance or
noncompliance with the requirements of that Act by lobbyists and their
clients.
(b) Annual Reports.--Not later than April 1 of each year, the
Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the review
required by subsection (a). The report shall include the Comptroller
General's assessment of the matters required to be emphasized by that
subsection and any recommendations of the Comptroller General to--
(1) improve the compliance by lobbyists with the
requirements of that Act; and
(2) provide the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of
the House of Representatives with the resources and authorities
needed for effective oversight and enforcement of that Act.
SEC. 232. MANDATORY SENATE ETHICS TRAINING FOR MEMBERS AND STAFF.
(a) Training Program.--The Select Committee on Ethics shall conduct
ongoing ethics training and awareness programs for Members of the
Senate and Senate staff.
(b) Requirements.--The ethics training program conducted by the
Select Committee on Ethics shall be completed by--
(1) new Senators or staff not later than 60 days after
commencing service or employment; and
(2) Senators and Senate staff serving or employed on the
date of enactment of this Act not later than 120 days after the
date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 233. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING SELF-REGULATION WITHIN THE
LOBBYING COMMUNITY.
It is the sense of the Senate that the lobbying community should
develop proposals for multiple self-regulatory organizations which
could provide--
(1) for the creation of standards for the organizations
appropriate to the type of lobbying and individuals to be
served;
(2) training for the lobbying community on law, ethics,
reporting requirements, and disclosure requirements;
(3) for the development of educational materials for the
public on how to responsibly hire a lobbyist or lobby firm;
(4) standards regarding reasonable fees to clients;
(5) for the creation of a third-party certification program
that includes ethics training; and
(6) for disclosure of requirements to clients regarding fee
schedules and conflict of interest rules.
SEC. 234. ANNUAL ETHICS COMMITTEES REPORTS.
The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of
Representatives and the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate shall
each issue an annual report due no later than January 31, describing
the following:
(1) The number of alleged violations of Senate or House
rules including the number received from third parties, from
Members or staff within each House, or inquires raised by a
Member or staff of the respective House or Senate committee.
(2) A list of the number of alleged violations that were
dismissed--
(A) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction; or
(B) because they failed to provide sufficient facts
as to any material violation of the House or Senate
rules beyond mere allegation or assertion.
(3) The number of complaints in which the committee staff
conducted a preliminary inquiry.
(4) The number of complaints that staff presented to the
committee with recommendations that the complaint be dismissed.
(5) The number of complaints that the staff presented to
the committee with recommendation that the investigation
proceed.
(6) The number of ongoing inquiries.
(7) The number of complaints that the committee dismissed
for lack of substantial merit.
(8) The number of private letters of admonition or public
letters of admonition issued.
(9) The number of matters resulting in a disciplinary
sanction.
Subtitle C--Slowing the Revolving Door
SEC. 241. AMENDMENTS TO RESTRICTIONS ON FORMER OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND
ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
BRANCHES.
(a) Very Senior Executive Personnel.--The matter after subparagraph
(C) in section 207(d)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 years''.
(b) Restrictions on Lobbying by Members of Congress and Employees
of Congress.--Subsection (e) of section 207 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``within 1 year'' and
inserting ``within 2 years'';
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) through (5) and inserting
the following:
``(2) Congressional staff.--
``(A) Prohibition.--Any person who is an employee
of a House of Congress and who, within 1 year after
that person leaves office, knowingly makes, with the
intent to influence, any communication to or appearance
before any of the persons described in subparagraph
(B), on behalf of any other person (except the United
States) in connection with any matter on which such
former employee seeks action by a Member, officer, or
employee of either House of Congress, in his or her
official capacity, shall be punished as provided in
section 216 of this title.
``(B) Contact persons covered.--persons referred to
in subparagraph (A) with respect to appearances or
communications are any Member, officer, or employee of
the House of Congress in which the person subject to
subparagraph (A) was employed. This subparagraph shall
not apply to contacts with staff of the Secretary of
the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives
regarding compliance with lobbying disclosure
requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995.'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)''
and inserting ``paragraph (2)'';
(B) by striking ``(A)'';
(C) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(D) by redesignating the paragraph as paragraph
(3); and
(4) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (4).
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (b) shall
take effect 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Subtitle D--Ban on Provision of Gifts or Travel by Lobbyists in
Violation of the Rules of Congress
SEC. 251. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF GIFTS OR TRAVEL BY REGISTERED
LOBBYISTS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND TO CONGRESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES.
The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 25. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF GIFTS OR TRAVEL BY REGISTERED
LOBBYISTS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND TO CONGRESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES.
``(a) Prohibition.--A registered lobbyist may not knowingly make a
gift or provide travel to a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner,
officer, or employee of Congress, unless the gift or travel may be
accepted under the rules of the House of Representatives or the Senate.
``(b) Penalty.--Any registered lobbyist who violates this section
shall be subject to penalties provided in section 7.''.
Subtitle E--Commission To Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of 2007
SEC. 261. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Commission to Strengthen
Confidence in Congress Act of 2007''.
SEC. 262. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established in the legislative branch a commission to be
known as the ``Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress'' (in
this subtitle referred to as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 263. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the Commission are to--
(1) evaluate and report the effectiveness of current
congressional ethics requirements, if penalties are enforced
and sufficient, and make recommendations for new penalties;
(2) weigh the need for improved ethical conduct with the
need for lawmakers to have access to expertise on public policy
issues;
(3) determine whether the current system for enforcing
ethics rules and standards of conduct is sufficiently effective
and transparent;
(4) determine whether the statutory framework governing
lobbying disclosure should be expanded to include additional
means of attempting to influence Members of Congress, senior
staff, and high-ranking executive branch officials;
(5) analyze and evaluate the changes made by this Act to
determine whether additional changes need to be made to uphold
and enforce standards of ethical conduct and disclosure
requirements; and
(6) investigate and report to Congress on its findings,
conclusions, and recommendations for reform.
SEC. 264. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.
(a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 members, of
whom--
(1) the chair and vice chair shall be selected by agreement
of the majority leader and minority leader of the House of
Representatives and the majority leader and minority leader of
the Senate;
(2) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of
the Senate leadership of the Republican Party, 1 of which is a
former member of the Senate;
(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of
the Senate leadership of the Democratic Party, 1 of which is a
former member of the Senate;
(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of
the leadership of the House of Representatives of the
Republican Party, 1 of which is a former member of the House of
Representatives; and
(5) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior member of
the leadership of the House of Representatives of the
Democratic Party, 1 of which is a former member of the House of
Representatives.
(b) Qualifications; Initial Meeting.--
(1) Political party affiliation.--Five members of the
Commission shall be Democrats and 5 Republicans.
(2) Nongovernmental appointees.--An individual appointed to
the Commission may not be an officer or employee of the Federal
Government or any State or local government.
(3) Other qualifications.--It is the sense of Congress that
individuals appointed to the Commission should be prominent
United States citizens, with national recognition and
significant depth of experience in professions such as
governmental service, government consulting, government
contracting, the law, higher education, historian, business,
public relations, and fundraising.
(4) Deadline for appointment.--All members of the
Commission shall be appointed on a date 3 months after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(5) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall meet and begin
the operations of the Commission as soon as practicable.
(c) Quorum; Vacancies.--After its initial meeting, the Commission
shall meet upon the call of the chairman or a majority of its members.
Six members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in
the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the
same manner in which the original appointment was made.
SEC. 265. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION.
The functions of the Commission are to submit to Congress a report
required by this title containing such findings, conclusions, and
recommendations as the Commission shall determine, including proposing
organization, coordination, planning, management arrangements,
procedures, rules and regulations--
(1) related to section 263; or
(2) related to any other areas the commission unanimously
votes to be relevant to its mandate to recommend reforms to
strengthen ethical safeguards in Congress.
SEC. 266. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Evidence.--The Commission or, on the authority of
the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the
purpose of carrying out this title hold such hearings and sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence,
administer such oaths.
(b) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the
head of any agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government shall
furnish information deemed necessary by the panel to enable it to carry
out its duties.
(c) Limit on Commission Authority.--The Commission shall not
conduct any law enforcement investigation, function as a court of law,
or otherwise usurp the duties and responsibilities of the ethics
committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate.
SEC. 267. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Compensation.--Except as provided in subsection (b), members of
the Commission shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits
by reason of their service on the Commission.
(b) Travel Expenses and Per Diem.--Each member of the Commission
shall receive travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Staff and Support Services.--
(1) Staff director.--
(A) Appointment.--The Chair (or Co-Chairs) in
accordance with the rules agreed upon by the Commission
shall appoint a staff director for the Commission.
(B) Compensation.--The staff director shall be paid
at a rate not to exceed the rate established for level
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code.
(2) Staff.--The Chair (or Co-Chairs) in accordance with the
rules agreed upon by the Commission shall appoint such
additional personnel as the Commission determines to be
necessary.
(3) Applicability of civil service laws.--The staff
director and other members of the staff of the Commission 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.
(4) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the
Commission, the staff 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
Commission on a nonreimbursable basis. The facilities shall serve as
the headquarters of the Commission and shall include all necessary
equipment and incidentals required for the proper functioning of the
Commission.
(e) Administrative Support Services and Other Assistance.--
(1) In general.--Upon the request of the Commission, the
Architect of the Capitol and the Administrator of General
Services shall provide to the Commission 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 Commission such services, funds,
facilities, staff, and other support services as the Commission
may deem advisable and as may be authorized by law.
(f) Use of Mails.--The Commission 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 Commission shall be deemed to be a committee of
the Congress.
SEC. 268. SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF.
The appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall cooperate
with the Commission in expeditiously providing to the Commission
members and staff appropriate security clearances to the extent
possible pursuant to existing procedures and requirements, except that
no person shall be provided with access to classified information under
this title without the appropriate security clearances.
SEC. 269. COMMISSION REPORTS; TERMINATION.
(a) Annual Reports.--The Commission shall submit--
(1) an initial report to Congress not later than July 1,
2007; and
(2) annual reports to Congress after the report required by
paragraph (1);
containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for
corrective measures as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission
members.
(b) Administrative Activities.--During the 60-day period beginning
on the date of submission of each annual report and the final report
under this section, the Commission shall--
(1) be available to provide testimony to committees of
Congress concerning such reports; and
(2) take action to appropriately disseminate such reports.
(c) Termination of Commission.--
(1) Final report.--Five years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a final
report containing information described in subsection (a).
(2) Termination.--The Commission, and all the authorities
of this title, shall terminate 60 days after the date on which
the final report is submitted under paragraph (1), and the
Commission may use such 60-day period for the purpose of
concluding its activities.
SEC. 270. FUNDING.
There are authorized such sums as necessary to carry out this
title.
Calendar No. 1
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 4, 2007
Read the first time; ordered read the second time and placed on the
calendar