IV
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 264
To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to require greater
disclosure of gifts.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 10, 1995
Mr. BURTON of Indiana (for himself, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. JONES, Mrs.
FOWLER, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HANSEN,
Mr. TAUZIN, Mr. EWING, Mr. PACKARD, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. LAUGHLIN,
Mr. SCARBOROUGH, Mr. BATEMAN, Mr. MCKEON, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. EV-
ERETT, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. MYERS of Indiana, Mr.
MCINNIS, Mr. BAKER of Louisiana, Mr. DORNAN, Mr. CRANE, Mr. KING,
Mr. BONO, Mr. HASTERT, Mr. MOORHEAD, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Ms.
DUNN of Washington, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. BONILLA, Mr. BREW-
STER, Mr. TANNER, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. HAYES, Mr. ABERCROMBIE,
Mr. MURTHA, Mr. PARKER, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. CLAY, Mr. HOUGHTON,
Mr. STOCKMAN, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. MAR-
TINEZ, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. TEJEDA, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. EDDIE
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. BISHOP,
Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois, Mr. DIXON, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. FATTAH, Mr.
MFUME, Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. BOEH-
LERT, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr. SCHAEFER, Mr.
MCHUGH, Mr. WICKER, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. BUYER, Mr. BUNNING of Ken-
tucky, Mr. BLILEY, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. HANCOCK, Mrs. VUCANOVICH, Mr.
CUNNINGHAM, Mr. DOOLEY, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. FUNDERBURK, Mr.
FLAKE, Mr. MCDADE, and Mr. RADANOVICH) introduced the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules, and in addition
to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, 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 con-
cerned
•HRES 264 IH
RESOLUTION
To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to
require greater disclosure of gifts.
Resolved,
SECTION 1. GIFT DISCLOSURE.
(a) NEW RULE.—Rule XLIV of the Rules of the
House of Representatives is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘3. Notwithstanding section 102 of the Ethics in
Government Act of 1978, each report filed with the Clerk
under title I of such Act for calendar year 1996 or any
subsequent calendar year shall disclose any gift (including
a meal) with a fair market value in excess of $50 (other
than personal hospitality of an individual or any gift re-
ceived from a relative of the reporting individual), as ad-
justed under section 102(a)(2)(A) of the Ethics in Govern-
ment Act of 1978.’’.
(b) EXISTING RULE.—Clause 4 of Rule XLIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives is amended by
striking ‘‘$100’’ and inserting ‘‘$50’’.
SEC. 2. CONVENTIONS, ETC.
Clause 4 of Rule XLIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘A Member’’
and inserting ‘‘(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)
•HRES 264 IH
and (c), a Member’’ and by adding at the end the follow-
ing:
‘‘(b)(1) A Member, officer, or employee may accept
an offer of free attendance at a widely attended conven-
tion, conference, symposium, forum, panel discussion, din-
ner, viewing, reception, or similar event, provided by the
sponsor of the event, if—
‘‘(A) the Member, officer, or employee partici-
pates in the event as a speaker or a panel partici-
pant, by presenting information related to Congress
or matters before Congress, or by performing a cere-
monial function appropriate to the Member’s, offi-
cer’s, or employee’s official position; or
‘‘(B) attendance at the event is appropriate to
the performance of the official duties or representa-
tive function of the Member, officer, or employee.
‘‘(2) A Member, officer, or employee who attends an
event described in subparagraph (1) may accept a spon-
sor’s unsolicited offer of free attendance at the event for
the spouse or dependent of the Member, officer, or em-
ployee.
‘‘(3) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘free
attendance’ may include waiver of all or part of a con-
ference or other fee, the provision of lodging or transpor-
tation or the provision of food, refreshments, entertain-
•HRES 264 IH
ment, and instructional materials furnished to all
attendees as an integral part of the event. The term does
not include entertainment collateral to the event, nor does
it include food or refreshments taken other than in a
group setting with all or substantially all other attendees.
‘‘(c) A Member, officer, or employee, or the spouse
or dependent thereof, may accept a sponsor’s unsolicited
offer of free attendance at a charity event if—
‘‘(1) the event is sponsored by an organization
which is listed under section 501(c)(3) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986;
‘‘(2) all Member, officer, employee, spouse, or
dependent-related expenses are paid by the sponsor-
ing organization and not by another corporation or
individual;
‘‘(3) the proceeds to charity from the event ex-
ceed the costs of the event; and
‘‘(4) the participation contributes in a tangible
way to the success of the event.’’.
Æ