Executive Appointee Ethics Improvement Act

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit high-level Federal employees from participating in any matter substantially related to the appointee’s former employment, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Executive Appointee Ethics Improvement Act 2. Amendments to section 207 of title 18 (a) Extension of post-Employment ban on lobbying for certain former government employees Section 207 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking one-year two-Year (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking within 1 year after within 2 years after (ii) by striking within 1 year before such termination (C) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following: (D) Not later than 30 days after a waiver is granted under subparagraph (C), the waiver shall be published in the Federal Register and accompanied by a signed statement by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics describing in detail the reasons for providing such waiver unless such a description would compromise national security. ; (2) in subsection (d)(1), in the matter following subparagraph (C), by striking within 2 years within 5 years (3) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking in such position terminated (b) Lifetime ban on representation of foreign entities for certain high-Level former employees Section 207(f) of such title is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting (or, in the case of an individual described in paragraph (2), at any time) within 1 year (2) in paragraph (2), by striking paragraph (1) paragraphs (1) and (2) (3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4); and (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: (2) Description of individuals subject to lifetime ban An individual described in this paragraph is any individual who was— (A) employed in a position described under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5, United States Code (relating to the Executive Schedule); (B) a limited term appointee, limited emergency appointee, or noncareer appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code; or (C) employed in a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations. . 3. Prohibition on participation in matter relating to previous employment (a) In general Chapter 11 section 219 220. Prohibition on participation in matter relating to previous employment (a) During the 2-year period beginning on the date an individual is appointed to a covered position at an agency, any such individual who has not received a waiver under subsection (b)— (1) who participates in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to the individual’s former employer or former clients, or (2) with respect to any such individual who was a registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or who was not a registered lobbyist under such Act but who engaged in lobbying activity as defined in subsection (c), during the 2-year period preceding the date of such appointment, who— (A) participates in any particular matter on which the individual made a lobbying contact (in the case of a registered lobbyist under such Act), or engaged in such activity, during such 2-year period, (B) participates in the specific issue area in which such particular matter falls, or (C) seeks or accepts employment with any agency with respect to which the individual made a lobbying contact (in the case of a registered lobbyist under such Act), or engaged in such activity, during such 2-year period, shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title. (b) (1) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Counsel to the President, may waive the requirements of subsection (a) with respect to any individual covered by such subsection if the Director certifies, in writing, to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the appropriate congressional committees of jurisdiction, that it is in the public interest to grant the waiver. (2) For purposes of carrying out paragraph (1)— (A) the public interest includes exigent circumstances relating to public health, public safety, or national security; (B) de minimis contact with an agency shall be cause for a waiver of subsection (a)(2); and (C) any waiver shall take effect when the certification is published in the Federal Register, accompanied by a signed statement by the Director describing in detail the reasons for providing the waiver unless such a description would compromise national security. (c) (1) In this section, the term lobbying activity (2) In paragraph (1), the term lobbying firm (A) employees of the firm in the aggregate make 2 or more lobbying contacts at any time on behalf of a particular client; and (B) the firm receives or expects to receive from a particular client for matters related to lobbying activities at least the amount specified in section 4(a)(3)(A) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1603(a)(3)(A) (3) In paragraph (1), the term lobbying organization (A) employees of the firm in the aggregate make 2 or more lobbying contacts at any time on its behalf; and (B) the organization expends in connection with lobbying activities at least the amount specified in section 4(a)(3)(B) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1603(a)(3)(A) (4) In this subsection, the term employee 2 U.S.C. 1602(5) (d) In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) The term agency Executive agency (2) The term covered position (A) means any— (i) full-time, non-career position which requires appointment by the President or Vice-President; (ii) non-career position within the Senior Executive Service or other SES-type system; or (iii) position that has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of being of a confidential or policymaking character, including positions under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and (B) does not include any individual appointed as a member of the Senior Foreign Service or solely as a uniformed service commissioned officer. (3) The term directly and substantially related to former employer or former clients (4) The term former client (5) The term former employer (6) The term lobbying contact 2 U.S.C. 1602(8) (7) The term particular matter (8) The term participate (9) The term particular matter involving specific parties . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections of chapter 11 section 219 220. Prohibition on participation in matter relating to previous employment. . (c) Application The amendments made after subsection (a) shall apply to any individual appointed to a covered position (as that term is defined in section 220(d)(2) of title 18, United States Code, as added by such subsection) after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Executive Appointee Ethics Improvement Act This bill lengthens from one to two years the ban on certain senior personnel of the executive branch and independent agencies from lobbying the department or agency in which the person served. If the Director of the Office of Government Ethics decides to waive this restriction, such decision shall be published in the Federal Register unless it would compromise national security. The bill lengthens from two to five years the ban on certain very senior personnel of the executive branch and independent agencies, including the Vice President, from lobbying any office or employee of any department or agency in which such person served. Certain high-level employees of the executive branch are subject to a lifetime ban on knowingly representing a foreign entity before any officer or employee of any department or agency of the United States with the intent to influence a decision of such officer or employee. During a two-year period beginning on the date an individual is appointed to a covered position, such individual is banned from participating in any matter involving specific parties that is directly related to the individual's former employer or former clients. Additionally, any individual who was a registered lobbyist or who engaged in lobbying activities during a two-year period prior to appointment is prohibited from participating in any particular matter on which the individual made a lobbying contact or participating in the specific issue area in which the matter falls. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may waive these requirements if OMB certifies in writing to various congressional committees that it is in the public interest to grant the waiver.