The Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate have updated their Lobbying Disclosure Act databases. (This may have happened a while ago, but I just noticed.) The improved functions include an increase in the number of search functions. This includes over two dozen search categories, the ability to search using up to 5 categories on the Senate site and 6 categories on the Clerk’s site at the same time, and the ability to download XML/CSV files of searches.

Some of the highlights of new search categories are issue area (includes bill numbers), specific lobbying issue, and government entity contacted. These search functions will allow users of these databases to discover far more information than before in a much shorter period of time. This is all thanks to standardization of the forms, electronic disclosure, and some increased transparency requirements in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.