I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4738 
To establish a commission to strengthen confidence in Congress. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2006 
Mr. UDALL of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on House Administration 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to strengthen confidence in 
Congress. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to 
Strengthen Confidence in Congress Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established in the legislative branch a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission to Strengthen 
Confidence in Congress’’ (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of the Commission are to— 
(1) evaluate and report the effectiveness of cur-
rent congressional ethics requirements, if penalties 
are enforced and sufficient, and make recommenda-
tions for new penalties; 
(2) weigh the need for improved ethical conduct 
with the need for lawmakers to have access to exper-
tise on public policy issues; 
(3) determine and report minimum standards 
relating to official travel for Members of Congress 
and staff; 
(4) evaluate the range of gifts given to Mem-
bers of Congress and staff, determine and report the 
effects on public policy, and make recommendations 
for limits on gifts; 
(5) evaluate and report the effectiveness and 
transparency of congressional disclosure laws and 
recommendations for improvements; 
(6) assess and report the effectiveness of the 
ban on Members of Congress and staff from lob-
bying their former office for 1 year and make rec-
ommendations for altering the time frame; 
(7) make recommendations to improve the proc-
ess whereby Members of Congress can earmark pri-
orities in appropriations Acts, while still preserving 
congressional power of the purse; 
(8) evaluate the use of public and privately 
funded travel by Members of Congress and staff, 
violations of Congressional rules governing travel, 
and make recommendations on limiting travel; and 
(9) investigate and report to Congress on its 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations for re-
form. 
SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. 
(a) MEMBERS.—The Commission shall be composed 
of 10 members, of whom— 
(1) the chair and vice chair shall be selected by 
agreement of the majority leader and minority lead-
er of the House of Representatives and the majority 
leader and minority leader of the Senate; 
(2) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior 
member of the Senate leadership of the Republican 
Party, 1 of which is a former member of the Senate; 
(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior 
member of the Senate leadership of the Democratic 
Party, 1 of which is a former member of the Senate; 
(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior 
member of the leadership of the House of Represent-
atives of the Republican Party, 1 of which is a 
former member of the House of Representatives; and 
(5) 2 members shall be appointed by the senior 
member of the leadership of the House of Represent-
atives of the Democratic Party, 1 of which is a 
former member of the House of Representatives. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS; INITIAL MEETING.— 
(1) 
POLITICAL
PARTY
AFFILIATION.—Five 
members of the Commission shall be Democrats and 
5 Republicans. 
(2) NONGOVERNMENTAL APPOINTEES.—An in-
dividual appointed to the Commission may not be an 
officer or employee of the Federal Government or 
any State or local government. 
(3) OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that individuals appointed to the Commis-
sion should be prominent United States citizens, 
with national recognition and significant depth of ex-
perience in professions such as governmental service, 
government consulting, government contracting, the 
law, higher education, historian, business, public re-
lations, and fundraising. 
(4) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All mem-
bers of the Commission shall be appointed on a date 
3 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
(5) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall 
meet and begin the operations of the Commission as 
soon as practicable. 
(c) QUORUM; VACANCIES.—After its initial meeting, 
the Commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman 
or a majority of its members. Six members of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the Com-
mission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in 
the same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. 
SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF COMMISSION. 
The functions of the Commission are to submit to 
Congress a report required by this Act containing such 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations as the Com-
mission shall determine, including proposing organization, 
coordination, planning, management arrangements, proce-
dures, rules and regulations— 
(1) related to section 3; or 
(2) related to any other areas the commission 
unanimously votes to be relevant to its mandate to 
recommend reforms to strengthen ethical safeguards 
in Congress. 
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission or, 
on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or