“To provide greater controls and restrictions on revolving door lobbying.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises post-employment lobbying restrictions under 18 U.S.C. §207(e)(1) to impose a lifetime ban on former Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and elected officers of either House from knowingly communicating with or appearing before any Member, officer, or employee of Congress—or employee of any other congressional legislative office—to influence official action on behalf of any other person (except the United States), replacing the prior one-year ban. It makes conforming amendments to §207(e)(2) to apply solely to staff by (1) revising the heading to "Staff," (2) removing references to elected officers of the Senate or House, (3) changing "leaves office or employment" to "leaves employment," and (4) striking "former elected officer or."
This section directs the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives to maintain a joint lobbyist disclosure internet database, lobbyists.gov—an easily searchable website with a stated goal of simplicity of usage—for information required to be publicly disclosed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. The section authorizes appropriations of $100,000 for FY2026 to carry out this requirement.
This section prohibits a registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 or an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 from being hired by a Member of Congress or congressional committee with whom the individual had substantial lobbying contact, for six years after terminating such activities. The prohibition may be waived by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics or House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct based on a compelling national need. Substantial lobbying contact includes contacts pertaining to pending legislation, earmark or federal funding solicitation, or coordination of meetings, presentations to staff, or fundraising (excluding mere personal contributions), but excludes simple social contacts.
This section establishes annual reporting requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 for substantial lobbying entities (i.e., incorporated entities employing more than 3 registered lobbyists during a filing period). Such entities must file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate a list of each employee, contractor, or paid consultant who is (1) a former Senator or former Member of the House of Representatives or (2) a covered legislative branch official who was paid at least $100,000 in any one year, worked at least 4 years total, or held a specified senior title (i.e., Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, Staff Director, Counsel, Professional Staff Member, Communications Director, or Press Secretary); the filing must include a brief job description and explanation of relevant prior experience for each individual. This section further directs enhancements to the lobbyists.gov website, including a searchable, sortable, downloadable database with an API for this information, and requires the Clerk and Secretary to provide filing copies to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for oversight of potential underreporting of lobbying activities.