United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 796 (115th)
Drain the Swamp Act of 2017
Introduced
1 February 2017
Last action
2 March 2017 · Referred
Status
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Sponsors
Ron DeSantis, Todd Rokita, Greg Gianforte
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
11 August 2025
Summary
Drain the Swamp Act of 2017 This bill increases the ban on certain former executive branch officials, Members of Congress, and legislative staff within five years of termination of employment to knowingly make, with the intent to influence, any communication or appearance before an officer or employee of the executive branch, a Member of Congress or their staff, or any other legislative office on behalf of any other person (except the United States). The bill establishes penalties for such violations. The bill eliminates a similar two-year ban on certain senior executive branch officials. The bill creates a lifetime ban on certain senior personnel of the executive branch (including independent agencies) from representing, aiding, or advising foreign entities. The bill broadens the definition of lobbying activities in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to also include consulting and advising. The bill amends the definition of lobbyist in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to include individuals who spend at least 10% of their time engaged in lobbying services to one client in a 3-month period. The scope of prohibitions on foreign nationals is expanded to include soliciting a contribution or donation in connection with a federal, state, or local election; to a political party; or for an electioneering communication.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
1 February 2017
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
1 February 2017
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
1 February 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
1 February 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
2 March 2017
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in House · 1 February 2017 · Official file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 1 February 2017
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 1 February 2017
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 1 February 2017
Sponsors
- Ron DeSantis · R · Sponsor
- Todd Rokita · R · Cosponsor
- Greg Gianforte · R · Cosponsor
- · hsju00 · Standing
- · hsha00 · Standing
Related records
No cross-record relationships stored yet.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/796
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/115/hr/796
- us · 115-hr-796 · source updated 11 August 2025