Public Service Integrity Act
Bill: H.R.414 | Sponsor: Rep. Posey, Bill (R-FL)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Public Service Integrity Act
This bill increases to five years the post-employment lobbying ban on a former Member of the Senate (currently, two years) or a former Member of the House of Representatives (currently, one year).
Additionally, the bill increases from one year to two years the post-employment lobbying restrictions on officers and employees of the legislative branch. It also lowers the income threshold at which the restrictions become applicable for such officers and employees.

To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a uniform 5-year 
 post-employment ban on all lobbying by former Members of Congress, to 
   establish a uniform 2-year post-employment ban on all lobbying by 
    former officers and employees of Congress, to lower the income 
  threshold for applying such ban to former officers and employees of 
                   Congress, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Service Integrity Act''.

SEC. 2. RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING BY FORMER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

    (a) 5-Year Post-Employment Ban on All Lobbying.--
            (1) Former senators.--Subparagraph (A) of section 207(e)(1) 
        of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking 
        ``within 2 years after that person leaves office'' and 
        inserting ``within 5 years after that person leaves office''.
            (2) Former members of the house of representatives.--
        Paragraph (1) of section 207(e) of such title is amended by 
        striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Members of the house of representatives.--Any 
                person who is a Member of the House of Representatives 
                and who, within 5 years after that person leaves 
                office, knowingly makes, with the intent to influence, 
                any communication to or appearance before any Member, 
                officer, or employee of either House of Congress and 
                any employee of any other legislative office of the 
                Congress, on behalf of any other person (except the 
                United States) in connection with any matter on which 
                such former Member seeks action by a Member, officer, 
                or employee of either House of Congress, in his or her 
                official capacity, shall be punished as provided in 
                section 216 of this title.
                    ``(C) Officers of the house of representatives.--
                Any person who is an elected officer of the House of 
                Representatives and who, within 1 year after that 
                person leaves office, knowingly makes, with the intent 
                to influence, any communication to or appearance before 
                any Member, officer, or employee of the House of 
                Representatives, on behalf of any other person (except 
                the United States) in connection with any matter on 
                which such former elected officer seeks action by a 
                Member, officer, or employee of either House of 
                Congress, in his or her official capacity, shall be 
                punished as provided in section 216 of this title.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to any individual who, on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, leaves an office to which section 207(e)(1) of 
title 18, United States Code, applies.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING BY FORMER OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF 
              CONGRESS.

    (a) 2-Year Post-Employment Ban on All Lobbying.--
            (1) Former officers of the house of representatives.--
        Subparagraph (C) of section 207(e)(1) of title 18, United 
        States Code, as amended by section 2(a)(2), is amended by 
        striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 years''.
            (2) Former officers and staff of the senate.--Paragraph (2) 
        of section 207(e) of such title is amended by striking ``within 
        1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 years''.
            (3) Former personal staff of members of the house of 
        representatives.--Paragraph (3)(A) of section 207(e) of such 
        title is amended by striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting 
        ``within 2 years''.
            (4) Former committee staff of house of representatives.--
        Paragraph (4) of section 207(e) of such title is amended by 
        striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 years''.
            (5) Former leadership staff of house of representatives.--
        Paragraph (5)(A) of section 207(e) of such title is amended by 
        striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 years''.
            (6) Former staff of other legislative offices of 
        congress.--Paragraph (6)(A) of section 207(e) of such title is 
        amended by striking ``within 1 year'' and inserting ``within 2 
        years''.
    (b) Lowering Income Threshold for Application of Restrictions.--
Subparagraph (A) of section 207(e)(7) of such title is amended by 
striking ``75 percent of the rate of basic pay'' and inserting ``50 
percent of the rate of basic pay''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to any individual who, on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, leaves a position to which section 207(e) of 
title 18, United States Code, applies.
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