January 19, 2007   SENATE PASSES LOBBYING REFORM LEGISLATION Senator Collins Releases Statement   Washington, DC - Late last night, the U.S. Senate has passed major lobbying reform legislation, which Senator Collins voted in support of. The bill included a number of provisions that were included in the lobbying reform legislation authored last year by Senators Collins and Lieberman and that were approved in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senator Collins voted in support of the bill and released this statement: "While I am disappointed that the Senate did not approve the Office of Public Integrity amendment that Senator Joe Lieberman and I proposed, this bill includes a number of reforms that should help to restore public confidence in the integrity of the decisions the Senate makes. The bill bans gifts from lobbyists, increases disclosure requirements, and reforms the earmarks process -- all much-needed improvements in our ethics system." Highlights of the legislation are as follows: • It bans gifts and travel provided by lobbyists and organizations that hire lobbyists. • Strengthens disclosure requirements of lobbying activities and makes disclosure reports more accessible to the American public via the Internet. • Heightens disclosure of earmarks in legislation and provides for new procedural tools so that lawmakers can later remove unnecessary, wasteful earmarks from spending bills. • It slows the revolving door through which Members and staffers leave Congress and immediately benefit from lobbying their former colleagues. • Provisions to ensure that the ability of organizations to encourage grassroots lobbying is protected ####   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 January 2007 Press Releases   January 31 - GAO Indentifies Government Operations at High Risk for Waste, Fraud, Abuse & Mismanagement   January 19 current Press Release   January 10 - Senator Collins Introduces Resolution Reaffirming Constitutional Protections of Sealed Mail   January 10 - Senator Collins Renews Efforts for Lobbying Reform, Supports Independent Ethics Review   January 10 - Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing on Unfulfilled 9/11 Commission Recommendations   January 5 - Senator Collins' Statement on 110th Congress   January 4 - Senator Collins' Statement on the Expected Resignation John Negroponte from Office of Director for National Intelligence   January 4 - Senator Collins Releases Statement on Recent Administration Statement on Postal Reform Bill   January 3 - DHS Releases Score Card, Ranking Portland Among the Top 5 Most Advanced Areas for Interoperable Emergency Communications
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510