U.S. Office of Government Ethics
1201 New York Ave., Nw
Suite 500
Washington, DC  20005

 
                                          October 29, 2008                                                                                
                                          DO-08-035                                       
 
MEMORANDUM
 
TO:         Designated Agency Ethics Officials
 
FROM:       Joseph E. Gangloff
            Deputy Director
                        
SUBJECT:    Deadline for Reporting Payments Accepted Under 31 U.S.C. § 1353
 
            Making information about Government accountability and transparency 
accessible is important to maintaining the public’s trust in Government. 
Regulations require that agencies submit to the Office of Government Ethics 
semiannual reports of payments for travel, subsistence and related expenses 
received by employees from non-Federal sources in connection with the attendance 
at certain meetings or similar functions (31 U.S.C. § 1353).  
 
            The next semiannual report should be submitted to the Office of 
Government Ethics no later than November 30, 2008, for payments received from 
April 1, 2008, through September 30, 2008.  If no pertinent reimbursement has 
been received by agency employees, agencies must submit negative reports.  
Timely submission of 1353 travel reports assists in promoting good governance by 
ensuring that public requests for information can be met in a timely manner.  
Establishing internal controls that ensure timely submissions is essential to 
this program.
 
            Agencies are strongly encouraged to submit their semiannual reports, 
by SF 326 or other format, via e-mail at 1353Travel@oge.gov.  If you submit your 
reports using the SF 326 that is available on the GSA forms library, please save 
and submit the report as a .pdf file.  (The Office of Government Ethics cannot 
open .xpw or .frp files.) 
  
            The General Services Administration final rule, effective June 16, 
2003, establishes a uniform reporting format that generally should be used for 
reporting payments received on or after that date.  The final rule also 
clarifies the role of the Office of Government Ethics:  OGE is responsible for 
making the information provided by the agencies available to the public.  It is 
each agency’s responsibility to file the accurate and complete reports and to 
make the appropriate conflict of interest analysis.  (See 68 Federal Register 
12602-12610 published March 17, 2003.)  
 
            If you have any questions, please contact Irene Houston at (202) 
482-9249 or at 1353travel@oge.gov.