ACE Paper: What Do the New Rules on Lobbying Congress Signify for
Colleges and Universities?
Sept. 18, 2007
The American
Council on Education (ACE) has issued a paper on the new
comprehensive lobbying and disclosure law and its most consequential
provisions for colleges, universities and higher education groups.
After regaining control of Congress last fall, the
Democratic leadership made lobbying reform a top priority of their
legislative agenda for the 110th Congress. The resulting
legislation—the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
(S. 1)—was approved by overwhelming votes of
411-8 in the House and 83-14 in the Senate in the days leading up to the
August recess.
President Bush
signed the bill into law on Sept. 14.
S.
1 requires lawmakers to disclose fundraising by lobbyists, tightens
rules on gift-giving to staff and lawmakers, and requires lawmakers to
disclose when they seek earmarked funds for projects in their home
states, among other provisions.
The amended
rules merit careful attention. For the first time, lobbying restrictions
will apply directly to lobbyists, not just to members of Congress and
Congressional staff. Most relevant to higher education institutions are
new limitations and prohibitions on gifts, meals and travel.
The ACE paper provides general
background on the changes and is not legal advice. Counsel should be
consulted as questions arise.
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