Peek at Transparency Related Legislation
One week into the 111th Congress and lawmakers have already introduced hundreds of bills. Of those few hundred bills some are bound to be concerned with what we’re concerned with: transparency and government ethics. Using Open Congress’ awesome bill tracking powers, I’ve compiled a list of the bills that relate to Sunlight’s work. You can find them by joining the Open Congress community and becoming my friend, or just keep reading below the jump.
H.R.36 Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2009
H.R.35 Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2009
H.R.311 To cap discretionary spending, eliminate wasteful and duplicative agencies, reform entitlement programs, and reform the congressional earmark process.
H.R.420 To prohibit the use of Federal funds for a project or program named for an individual then serving as a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator of the United States Congress.
H.Res.40 Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee to hold periodic hearings on the topic of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs which that committee may authorize, and for other purposes.
S.49 A bill to help Federal prosecutors and investigators combat public corruption by strengthening and clarifying the law.
S.103 A bill to require disclosure and payment of noncommercial air travel in the Senate.
S.104 A bill to prohibit authorized committees and leadership PACs from employing the spouse or immediate family members of any candidate or Federal office holder connected to the committee.
S.105 A bill to amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to establish criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully falsifying or failing to file or report certain information required to be reported under that Act.
S.133 A bill to prohibit any recipient of emergency Federal economic assistance from using such funds for lobbying expenditures or political contributions, to improve transparency, enhance accountability, encourage responsible corporate governance, and for other purposes.
S.162 Fiscal Discipline, Earmark Reform and Accountability Act
These last two bills are of particular interest. The latter bill, S. 162, is the previously blogged Feingold-McCain earmark reform legislation. I’ve attached the actual language below (unfortunately it takes the Government Printing Office a while to get legislative language online) for you to peruse.