Bill Summary
This is a bill that seeks to amend a section of the United States Code (title 18) in order to prohibit former Members of Congress (either Senators or Members of the House of Representatives) from engaging in lobbying activities. The bill specifies that any former member who makes a lobbying contact with a covered executive branch official or with any current Member, officer, or employee of Congress within one year of leaving office will be punished as provided by section 216 of the title. The bill also expands the scope of the prohibition to include former elected officers of the House of Representatives, who will be punished for making communications or appearances on behalf of any other person (except the United States) in connection with any matter that the former officer seeks action from a current Member, officer, or employee of Congress. The bill will be effective for individuals who leave office or employment to which these amendments apply on or after the date of adjournment of the second session of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress or December 31, 2020, whichever comes first.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect former Members of Congress by prohibiting them from engaging in lobbying activities after leaving office. This could limit their potential for additional income and restrict their ability to use their connections and influence for personal gain.
2. The legislation could affect current Members of Congress by prohibiting them from engaging in lobbying activities with covered executive branch officials. This could limit their ability to advocate for certain policies or interests on behalf of their constituents or other organizations.
3. The legislation could affect individuals who leave office or employment to which the amendments apply by subjecting them to punishment under section 216 of title 18, United States Code. This could deter individuals from engaging in lobbying activities after leaving office, as they could face criminal charges and penalties.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3122 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3122
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members of
Congress from engaging in lobbying contacts.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2019
Mr. Cicilline (for himself and Mr. Loebsack) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members of
Congress from engaging in lobbying contacts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON LOBBYING CONTACTS BY FORMER MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended as follows:
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) Members of congress.--
``(A) In general.--Any person who is a Senator or a
Member of the House of Representatives and who, after
that person leaves office, knowingly makes any lobbying
contact to a covered executive branch official, or to
any Member, officer, or employee of either House of
Congress, shall be punished as provided in section 216
of this title.
``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph, the terms
`lobbying contact' and `covered executive branch
official' have the meanings given those terms in
section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2
U.S.C. 1602).''.
(2) Paragraph (2) is amended--
(A) by striking ``(2) Any person'' and inserting
the following:
``(2) Officers and certain staff.--
``(A) Officers and staff of the senate.--Any
person''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Officers of the house of representatives.--
(i) Any person who is an elected officer of the House
of Representatives 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 clause (ii), on behalf
of any other person (except the United States) in
connection with any matter on which such elected
officer 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.
``(ii) The persons referred to in clause (i) with
respect to appearances or communications by a former
elected officer are any Member, officer, or employee of
the House of Representatives.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply to individuals who leave office or employment to which such
amendments apply on or after the date of adjournment of the second
session of the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress sine die or December 31,
2020, whichever date is earlier.
<all>