Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1992

Summary

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1992 - Provides that not later than 30 days after a lobbyist first makes a lobbying contact with a covered legislative or executive branch official, such lobbyist, or as provided below, the organization employing such lobbyist, shall register with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Defines "lobbyist" as any individual who is employed or retained by another for financial or other compensation to perform services that include lobbying contacts, other than an individual whose lobbying activities are only incidental to, and not a significant part of, the services for which such individual is paid. Specifies that such registration shall contain: (1) the name, address, business telephone number, and principal place of business of the registrant, and a general description of its business or activities; (2) the name, address, and principal place of business of the registrant's client, and a general description of its business or activities if different than those of the registrant; (3) the name of any organization, other than the client, that contributes more than $5,000 toward lobbying activities in a semiannual period, significantly participates in the supervision or control of lobbying activities, and has a direct financial interest in the outcome of lobbying activities; (4) the name, principal place of business, and approximate percentage of equitable ownership in the client of any foreign entity that supervises or subsidizes client activities, and any other foreign affiliate of the client that has a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity; (5) a general statement of issues on which the registrant expects to engage in lobbying activities on behalf of the client and, to the extent practicable, a list of specific issues that have already been, or are likely to be addressed; and (6) the name of each employee of the registrant whom the registrant expects to engage in lobbying contacts on behalf of the client. Provides that, for purposes of registration, a foreign entity shall be deemed to control the activities of a client in major part if the entity holds at least ten percent equitable ownership in the client. Requires registrants to terminate their registrations when they cease to represent a client. Provides that in the case of a registrant representing more than one client, a separate registration shall be filed for each client represented. Requires any organization that has one or more employees who are lobbyists to file a single registration for each client on behalf of its employees who engage in lobbying activities on behalf of such client. Requires each registrant to file with OGE a report on its lobbying activities during a semiannual period. Specifies the contents of such reports which include: (1) a list of specific issues upon which the registrant engaged in significant lobbying activities on behalf of the client during such period; and (2) an estimate of total receipts from the client, or, in the case of a registrant lobbying on its own behalf, an estimate of total costs incurred in connection with lobbying activities during such period. Requires estimates of such receipts or costs to be made according to specified guidelines. Provides for an extension to file such semiannual reports. Sets forth OGE administrative duties, which include: (1) prescribing such rules, forms, penalty schedules, and procedural regulations as are necessary for implementation of this Act; (2) making copies of each registration and report filed under this Act available to the public; and (3) transmitting to the President and the Congress periodic reports describing implementation of this Act. Establishes procedures for: (1) informal resolution of alleged noncompliance with the requirements of this Act; (2) determinations of noncompliance in cases where information provided to OGE through the procedures established above indicates that a noncompliance may exist; and (3) addressing registrations and filings that are more than 30 days late and failures to provide such information. Provides for judicial review of written decisions issued by OGE under the last two procedures enumerated above. Repeals the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act. Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to: (1) revise the definition of "foreign principal" to limit the applicability of such Act to representatives of a foreign government and foreign political parties; (2) eliminate references to political propaganda and, in certain cases, replace such references with references to informational materials; and (3) modify the exemption for lawyers with respect to registration filing to make such exemption applicable to communications with agency officials only in the course of agency proceedings required by statute or regulation to be conducted on the record. Revises the limitation on the use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions to: (1) eliminate certain disclosure provisions; (2) require declarations by applicants for Federal contracts, grants, loans, or cooperative agreements to name any registrant under this Act who has made lobbying contacts on behalf of such applicant with respect to that Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement; and (3) require similar declarations with respect to Federal loan guarantees. Repeals provisions under the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act relating to housing lobbyist activities. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act.

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2 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 27 February 1992

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