Office of Government Ethics Authorization Act of 1996
PL 104-179 (H.R.3235), enacted 08/06/1996

110 STAT. 1566 
PUBLIC LAW 104-179—AUG. 6, 1996 
Public Law 104-179 
104th Congress 
Aug. 6, 1996 
[H.R. 3235] 
Office of 
Grovemment 
Ethics 
Authorization 
Act of 1996. 
5 u s e app. 101 
note. 
Rules. 
An Act 
To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, to extend the authorization 
of appropriations for the Office of Government Ethics for 3 years, 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 "Office of Government Ethics 
Authorization Act of 1996". 
SEC. 2. GIFT ACCEPTANCE AUTHORITY. 
Section 403 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App. 5) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "Upon the request"; £ind 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
"(b)(1) The Director is authorized to accept and utilize on behalf 
of the United States, any gift, donation, bequest, or devise of money, 
use of facilities, personal property, or services for the purpose 
of aiding or facilitating the work of the Office of Government Ethics. 
"(2) No gift may be accepted— 
"(A) that attaches conditions inconsistent with applicable 
laws or regulations; or 
"(B) that is conditioned upon or will require the expenditure 
of appropriated funds that are not available to the Office of 
Government Ethics. 
"(3) The Director shall establish written rules setting forth 
the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance 
of contributions of money, services, use of facilities, or personal 
property under this subsection would reflect unfavorably upon the 
ability of the Office of Government Ethics, or any employee of 
such Office, to carry out its responsibilities or official duties in 
a fair and objective manner, or would compromise the integrity 
or the appearance of the integrity of its programs or any official 
involved in those programs.". 
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
The text of section 405 of the Ethics in Government Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 5) is amended to read as follows: "There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title such sums 
as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 1997 through 1999.". 
SEC. 4. REPEAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) REPEAL OF DISPLAY REQUIREMENT.—The Act entitled 
"An 
Act to provide for the display of the Code of Ethics for Government 
Service," approved July 3, 1980 (5 U.S.C. 7301 note), is repealed. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-179—AUG. 6, 1996 
110 STAT. 1567 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) FDIA.—Section 12(f)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act (12 U.S.C. 1822(f)(3)) is amended by striking ", with the 
concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics,". 
(2) ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1978.—(A) The heading 
for section 401 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 is 5 USC app. 401. 
amended to read as follows: 
"ESTABLISHMENT; APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR". 
(B) Section 408 of such Act is amended by striking "March 
5 USC app. 408. 
31" and inserting "April 30". 
SEC. 5. LIMITATION ON POSTEMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS. 
Section 207(j) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
"(7) 
POLITICAL PARTIES AND CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES.—(A) 
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the restrictions con-
tained in subsections (c), (d), and (e) shall not apply to a 
commiinication or appearance made solely on behalf of a can-
didate in his or her capacity as a candidate, an authorized 
committee, a national committee, a national Federal campaign 
committee, a State committee, or a political party. 
"(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to— 
"(i) any communication to, or appesirance before, the 
Federal Election Commission by a former officer or 
employee of the Federal Election Commission; or 
"(ii) a communication or appearance made by a person 
who is subject to the restrictions contained in subsections 
(c), (d), or (e) if, at the time of the communication or 
appearance, the person is employed by a person or entity 
other than— 
"(I) a candidate, an authorized committee, a 
national committee, a national Federal campaign 
committee, a State committee, or a political party; 
or 
"(II) a person or entity who represents, aids, or 
advises only persons or entities described in subclause 
(I). 
"(C) For purposes of this paragraph— 
"(i) the term 'candidate' means any person who seeks 
nomination for election, or election, to Federal or State 
office or who has authorized others to explore on his or 
her behalf the possibility of seeking nomination for election, 
or election, to Federal or State office; 
"(ii) the term 'authorized committee' means any politi-
cal committee designated in writing by a candidate as 
authorized to receive contributions or make expenditures 
to promote the nomination for election, or the election, 
of such candidate, or to explore the possibility of seeking 
nomination for election, or the election, of such candidate, 
except that a political committee that receives contributions 
or makes expenditures to promote more than 1 candidate 
may not be designated as an authorized committee for 
purposes of subparagraph (A); 
"(iii) the term 'national committee' means the organiza-
tion which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party. 
110 STAT. 1568 
PUBLIC LAW 104-179—AUG. 6, 1996 
is responsible for the day-to-day operation of such poHtical 
party at the national level; 
"(iv) the term 'national Federal campaign committee' 
means an organization that, by virtue of the bylaws of 
a political party, is established primarily for the purpose 
of providing assistance, at the national level, to candidates 
nominated by that party for election to the office of Senator 
or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
to, the Congress; 
"(v) the term 'State committee' means the organization 
which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is respon-
sible for the day-to-day operation of such political party 
at the State level; 
"(vi) the term 'political party* means an association, 
committee, or organization that nominates a candidate for 
election to any Federal or State elected office whose name 
appears on the election ballot as the candidate of such 
association, committee, or organization; and 
"(vii) the term 'State' means a State of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United 
States.". 
SEC. 6. PAY LEVEL. 
Section 207(c)(2)(A)(ii) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by striking "level V of the Executive Schedule," and insert-
ing "level 5 of the Senior Executive Service,". 
Approved August 6, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3235 (S. 699): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-595, Pt. 1 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 104-244 accompanying S. 699 (Comm. on Governmental 
Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
June 4, considered and passed House. 
July 24, considered and passed Senate.