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The lobbying and ethics reforms that were signed into law in September 2007 are now in effect. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007(S.1) requires federal lobbyists to file quarterly electronic reports, as well as disclosures of their political contributions. The measure also amends certain Senate procedural rules regarding earmarks and conference reports, and ethical rules regarding Member and staff employment negotiations, lobbying after leaving Congress, and lobbying by immediate family members. The President signed the bill into law on September 14, 2007 (Public Law 110-81). See Lobbying Disclosure Act as amended (PDF)
Independent Sector held a member briefing March 20, 2008 on the new federal lobbying disclosure laws:
See Independent Sector's Lobbying Disclosure Act overview covering both existing and new Federal LDA requirements, plus relevant changes in House and Senate gift and travel rules.(IS member password required)
Also see guidance from the House Ethics Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee,
and House and Senate lobbying disclosure websites.
Below are links to summaries of the changes to House rules, Senate rules and the Lobbying Disclosure Act that are of most interest to the nonprofit community.
Changes to House Rules (PDF) (IS member password required)
Changes to Senate Rules (PDF) (IS member password required)
Changes to Lobbying Disclosure Act (PDF) (IS member password required)
Charity Events
The final bill corrects an inadvertent provision in a proposed Senate rule that would have barred Senators from accepting free attendance at events held by charities that retain lobbyists. The House made a similar correction to its rules in May. As a result, all charities – including those who retain or employ lobbyists – may continue to invite members of Congress, staff, and families to attend fundraising events free of charge, with the certain conditions. That is, the invitation to the event must come from the sponsoring charity and not another individual or organization, and the net proceeds of the event must benefit a charity. Members and staff still cannot accept entertainment collateral to the event or food or refreshments taken other than in a group setting with all or substantially all other attendees.
It is important that charities issue the invitations themselves. The Senate Ethics Committee, which interprets these rules, advises Senators and staff not to accept invitations to charity events that appear to be coming from a third party, including corporate sponsors.
Background
Lobbying and ethics reform was a top priority of the new Democratic leadership of the 110th Congress. The House approved its own internal lobbying and ethics rules (H.Res.6) in January. The Senate followed by passing both internal rules and lobbying disclosure legislation in one measure (S.1). The latter bill took longer to reach final passage since it included statutory changes to the Lobbying Disclosure Act that needed House as well as Senate approval. The final measure passed overwhelmingly in the House by a vote of 411-8 and in the Senate by a vote of 83 to 14.
Last Updated: February 14 , 2008
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