Congressional Gifts and Travel, Legislative Proposals for the 109th Congress

Congressional Gifts and Travel, Legislative Proposals for the 109th Congress

Order Code RS22317
November 8, 2005
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Congressional Gifts and Travel, Legislative
Proposals for the 109th Congress
Mildred Amer
Specialist in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Summary
It has been nearly a decade since the House and Senate have examined their rules
on the acceptance of gifts and travel expenses. Press accounts of alleged excesses in
privately funded congressional travel and gifts, particularly from lobbyists, have
provided an impetus for proposed changes. This report provides an analysis of
proposals for change introduced or discussed in the 109th Congress, and will be updated
as events warrant.
Members, officers, and employees of the House and Senate have strict limits
imposed on the receipt of gifts, including the receipt or acceptance of payment of
reimbursement for travel expenses from outside, private third party sources.1 They are
prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts from any private source unless permitted by
an exception specified in the congressional rules of conduct.
In general, Members and staff may not accept gifts (including travel and personal
hospitality), reimbursements, or payments of their expenses (other than from relatives or
personal friends). The House and Senate Rules do however, permit de minimis gifts
valued under $50 from private sources, with a maximum of $100 per calendar year from
any one source. Gifts under $10 need not be counted.
1 U.S.C. § 7353, House Rule XXV, clause 5 and Senate Rule XXXV. See CRS Report RL33047,
Restrictions on the Acceptance of “Officially Connected” Travel Expenses from Private Sources
Under House and Senate Ethics Rules, by Jack Maskell. See also U.S. Congress, Senate Select
Committee on Ethics, An Overview of the Senate Code of Conduct and Related Laws, 109th
Congress, First Session, committee print, 109th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2005), pp. 2-
4; the Senate Select Committee on Ethics website [http://ethics.senate.gov], under “Recent
Updates& Notices” as well as under “Ethics Manual.” See also U.S. Congress, House Committee
on Standards of Official Conduct, Rule of the House of Representatives on Gifts and Travel, 106th
Cong., 2nd sess., Apr. 2000, as well as the website of the House Committee on Standards of
Official Conduct, available at [http://www.house.gov/ethics/Gifts_and_Travel_Chapter.htm] and
[http://www.house.gov/ethics/Highlights2005a.htm].
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Some travel expenses provided by outside, third parties may also be accepted under
limited circumstances if the travel is “officially connected.”2 Travel by staff must be
authorized in writing in advance by the supervising Member.
Lobbyists and Foreign Agents
Lobbyists and foreign agents fall into a special category of prohibited sources of
certain gifts and reimbursements, unless it can be shown that certain gifts were given on
the basis of a long-standing personal friendship with a Member, officer, or employee of
Congress. The additional prohibitions extend to payments to a legal defense fund;
personal hospitality of an individual; payments for a conference, or similar event
connected to a Member, officer, or employee of Congress; any payments made to an entity
maintained or controlled by a Member of Congress; and charitable contributions made on
the recommendation of a Member, officer, or employee (other than one in lieu of an
honorarium). The expenses of “officially connected travel” also may not be paid for by
a registered lobbyist or a foreign agent. The prohibition also applies even if these
prohibited sources will be reimbursed by a non-lobbyist client.
Under the House and Senate gift rules, a lobbyist is defined as one registered under
the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, and a foreign agent is defined as an agent of a
foreign principal registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. According to
interpretations of the rules by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics and the House
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, those required to file as lobbyists under the
1995 act include individual lobbyists as well as organizations that employ in-house
lobbyists, and lobbying firms with one or more employees who are lobbyists for outside
clients.3
An organization that employs lobbyists solely to represent its interests or its
members’ interests is not itself considered a lobbyist for purposes of the gift rules and can
sponsor or reimburse for officially related travel. A lobbying firm that provides services
for others, however, is covered by the gift and travel restrictions. Thus, while lobbyists
and lobbying firms are covered by the congressional gift and travel rules, the clients or
employers of the lobbyists or lobbying firms are not considered lobbyists unless they
actually do lobbying.
Current Issues
In spite of the restrictions on and disclosure requirements for congressional gift and
travel reimbursements, critics point to the absence of a total ban on these items from
2 CRS Report RL33047, Restrictions on the Acceptance of “Officially Connected” Travel
Expenses from Private Sources Under House and Senate Ethics Rules, by Jack Maskell.
3 U.S. Congress, Senate Select Committee on Ethics, Senate Ethics Manual, 108th Congress, 1st
Session, S.Pub. 108-1 (Washington: GPO, 2003), p. 43. See also the Senate Select Committee
website at [http://ethics.senate.gov/] and refer to the Ethics Manual at that site. In addition, U.S.
Congress, House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Gifts and Travel, 106th Cong., 2nd
sess., April 2000, pp. 55-56, 76. See also the House Committee’s website, available at
[http://www.house.gov/ethics/Gifts_and_Travel_Chapter.htm#_Toc476623599].

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private sources and allegations of abuse of current rules.4 A recent Associated Press-Ipsos
poll found “only one-third of Americans give Congress good ratings for its ethics and
honesty.”5
Moreover, the “appearance” factor places Members of Congress and staff in the
position of abiding by the rules in place, but possibly engaging in behavior that gives the
appearance of being in “that gray area” between what is “as clean as a hound’s tooth and
that which is obviously improper and illegal.”6
Examples of action permitted under congressional rules but open to criticism because
of the “appearance factor” include (1) accepting any gifts from lobbyists even if these gifts
are within the permissible limits established by Congress; (2) accepting “officially
connected” travel reimbursements from “lobbyists” who don’t fall within the definition
of lobbyists for purposes of the House and Senate gift rules; (3) traveling on corporate jets
or other forms of transportation with registered lobbyists or foreign agents, because there
are no restrictions on the traveling companions of Members and staff; and (4) the absence
of guidelines or limits for “reasonable” expenses for travel and lodging, and “necessary
expenses” in connection with officially connected travel (such as for a speech or fact-
finding trip) that is allowed under House and Senate Rules.7
For corporate jet travel, Members and staff must make some form of reimbursement.
The costs of such trips, if not for officially connected travel, is often covered by a
Member’s campaign committee if the trip is for a campaign event. The payments,
however, often do not cover the actual costs. Defenders of the practice point to the busy
schedules of Members and their need to quickly reach destinations that often are not
served by commercial airlines.8
Current Legislative Proposals9
In the current Congress, there have been discussions as well as legislative proposals
to change the congressional gift and travel rules, with particular emphasis on gifts from
lobbyists.
4 John Bresnahan, “Travel Scandal Fallout Ensnares Both Parties,” Roll Call, May 5, 2005, p. 1.;
“Time to Tighten Lobbying Laws,” Lexington (Kentucky) Herald Leader, May 10, 2005, p. A9;
and “Sensible Lobbying Reform,” Washington Post, May 9, 2005, p. A22.
5 Will Lister, Associated Press, Oct. 29, 2005.
6 Ralph Eisenberg, “Conflict of Interest Situations and Remedies,” Rutgers Law Review, vol. 13:
666 (1959).
7 “See the World,” Roll Call, Apr. 27, 2005, p. 4; Jim Drinkard, “Travel by Congress Often Paid
Privately,” USA Today, Apr. 25, 2005, p. 1, and “Trips Leave Ethics Behind,” USA Today, May
2, 2005, p. A10.
8 R. Jeffrey Smith and Derek Willis, “Hill Leaders Often Take Corporate Jets,” Washington Post,
May 6, 2005, p. A1.
9 See also CRS Report RL33065, Lobbying Disclosure: Background and Legislative Proposals,
109th Congress, by Eric Petersen.

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In May 2005, Representative Martin Meehan (D-MA) introduced H.R. 2412, which
he drafted with Representatives Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).10
The Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005 would
! increase the information and frequency of lobbying disclosures and
require electronic filings;
! extend the revolving door ban on Members, officers, and employees of
Congress from one to two years;
! require Members of Congress to publicly disclose employment
negotiations;
! require certification that congressional travel meets certain conditions
and require increased disclosure of travel by Members;
! mandate the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to
revise as necessary guidelines for permissible “reasonable” and
“necessary” travel expenses; and
! establish an Ethics Task Force to strengthen ethics oversight and
enforcement in the House of Representatives.
In June 2005, Representative George Miller (D-CA) introduced the Lobby Gift Ban
Act of 2005 (H.R. 3177) to prohibit, with some exceptions, gifts from lobbyists to
Members, officers, and employees of Congress or members of their families.11
In July 2005, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced the Lobbying and Ethics
Reform Act of 2005.12 S. 1398, similar to H.R. 2412, would
! enhance disclosures as well as electronic filings by lobbyists;
! require public disclosures by Members of employment negotiations;
! prohibit floor privileges by former Members who are lobbyists;
! mandate certification by Members, officers, and employees that official
travel meets certain standards;
! require full payment and disclosure of charter flights taken by Members
and staff;
10 Rep. Rahm Emanuel, remarks in the House, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 151, May
10, 2005, pp. H3087-H3088.
11 Tory Newmyer, “No More $49.99 Gifts If Miller’s Bill Passes,” Roll Call, June 21, 2005, pp.
1, 22.
12 Sen. Russ Feingold, remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 151, July
14, 2005, pp. S8310-S8311.

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! require the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the
Senate Select Committee on Ethics to revise as necessary guidelines for
permissible “reasonable” and “necessary” travel reimbursements; and
! prohibit all gifts to Members of Congress and staff.
Other Proposals
In addition to the legislation introduced thus far in the 109th Congress, several recent
articles indicate congressional leaders’ interest in changing the rules under which
Members accept officially connected travel from outside sources. Proposals mentioned
include requiring the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to “tighten”
rules on lobbying and travel; devise a new system for reviewing privately funded travel;
and require Members of the House to secure approval in advance of privately sponsored,
officially connected trips.13 Currently, only House and Senate employees must receive
advance, written authorization for such travel from the Member or officer under whose
direct supervision they work.14 In addition, Members, officers, and employees are
required to give a full disclosure (including dates, itinerary, expenses, and sponsors) to
the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate within 30 days after completion of
the travel.15
In response to the request by the Speaker of the House, J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), for
a new system for accepting privately funded travel, Representative Alan Mollohan (D-
WV), ranking member of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct,
asserted that the committee already has a system in place to vet privately funded trips.16
However, Representative Mollohan stressed the continued need for the Ethics Committee
to educate Members and staff on the House rules of conduct and to encourage them to
seek advice from the committee when they receive an invitation.17
Other reported recent actions include those of Representative Robert Ney, chairman
of the House Administration Committee, who directed the Clerk of the House to develop
an electronic system for travel and honoraria reports, which currently are filed only on
paper.18
13 Mike Allen, “House GOP to Consider Tougher Lobbying Rules,” Washington Post, May 5,
2005, p. A10; Mike Allen, “House GOP Weighs Preapproval of Sponsored Travel,” Washington
Post, May 11, 2005, p. A5; and John Bresnahan, “Hastert Asks for Travel Review, Roll Call, July
28, 2005, pp. 1, 22.
14 House Rule XXV, clause 5(b)(1)(A)(i); Senate Rule XXXV, clause 2(a)(1)(A).
15 House Rule XXV, clause 5(b)(1)(A)(ii); Senate Rule XXXV, clause 2(a)(1)(B).
16 John Bresnahan, “Mollohan Brushes Off Request for New Travel System,” Roll Call,
[http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1breakingnews/10257-1.html].
17 Ibid.
18 Kate Ackley, “Ney Orders House to Go Digital on Disclosure Forms,” Roll Call, June 30,
2005, pp. 3, 23.