Foreign Lobbying Reform

I have long been concerned about the practice of foreign governments, especially those with expressly different geopolitical aims than the United States, retaining high-powered lobbyists in Washington to help provide access and influence they would not otherwise have.

That is why I introduced legislation that would restrict former members of Congress, ambassadors and high-ranking U.S. government officials from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments for 10 years after leaving government.  The restriction also would apply to the president, vice president and other senior political appointees in the executive branch who require Senate confirmation. In addition, certain senior intelligence officials, including the director of the National Clandestine Service and CIA station chiefs, would be barred from representing foreign governments.

I offered a more tailored version of the legislation to a "must pass" appropriations bill which is set to come before the full House later this year.  The amendment included the same restrictions on former government officials but specifically targeted nations on the State Department’s “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) list which is comprised of governments who engage in serious human rights violations and religious persecution. This designation was created in the International Religious Freedom Act, which I authored in 1998.  Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan are currently on the State Department’s CPC list.

I introduced this legislation in part because I believe it could help restore public confidence in the institutions of government and changing the culture in Washington—something which is long overdue. Since the legislation was introduced in April, it has gained support from the United Steelworkers and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

When people believe that special interests, especially foreign interests, have undue influence in our system of government, trust in the very institutions of governance is eroded at our great peril.

Letters of Interest

• Letter of support for HR 4343 from the International Union of Operating Engineers

Articles of Interest

• Bill Restricting US Lobbying for Foreign Governments Has Support (Voice of America)
• Federal officials beware! Lobbying for unsavory governments may be banned (Washington Post)
• Major lobbying ban inserted into House spending legislation (The Hill)