IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 286 

Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 25, 2009 

Mr. FLAKE submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the table 

RESOLUTION 

Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 

Whereas The Hill reported that a prominent lobbying firm 

specializing in obtaining defense earmarks for its clients, 

the subject of a ‘‘federal investigation into potentially 

corrupt political contributions’’, has given $3.4 million in 

political donations to no less than 284 Members of Congress; 

Whereas multiple press reports have noted questions related 

to campaign contributions made by or on behalf of the 

firm; including questions related to ‘‘straw man’’ contributions, the reimbursement of employees for political 

giving, pressure on clients to give, a suspicious pattern 

of giving, and the timing of donations relative to legislative activity; 

Whereas Roll Call has taken note of the timing of contributions from employees of the firm and its clients when it 


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HRES 286 LTH 

reported that they ‘‘have provided thousands of dollars 

worth of campaign contributions to key Members in close 

proximity to legislative activity, such as the deadline for 

earmark request letters or passage of a spending bill.’’; 

Whereas CQ Today specifically noted a Member getting 

‘‘$25,000 in campaign contribution money from [the 

founder of the firm] and his relatives right after his subcommittee approved its spending bill in 2005.’’; 

Whereas the Associated Press also noted that Members received campaign contributions from employees of the firm 

‘‘around the time they requested’’ earmarks for companies represented by the firm; 

Whereas clients of the firm received at least $300 million 

worth of earmarks in fiscal year 2009 appropriations legislation, including several that were approved even after 

news of the FBI raid of the firm’s offices and Justice 

Department investigation into the firm was well known; 

and 

Whereas the persistent media attention focused on questions 

about the nature and timing of campaign contributions 

related to the firm, as well as reports of the Justice Department conducting research on earmarks and campaign 

contributions, raise concern about the integrity of Congressional proceedings and the dignity of this institution: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Committee on Standards of Official 

3 Conduct, or a subcommittee of the committee des4 ignated by the committee and its members appointed 

5 by the chairman and ranking member, shall immeVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:11 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR286.LTH HR286

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HRES 286 LTH 

1 diately begin an investigation into the relationship 

2 between the source and timing of past contributions 

3 to Members of the House related to the raided firm 

4 and earmark requests made by Members of the 

5 House on behalf of clients of the raided firm; and 

6 (2) the Committee on Standards of Official 

7 Conduct shall submit a report of its findings to the 

8 House of Representatives within 2 months after the 

9 date of adoption of this resolution. 

Æ 


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