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HRES 264 104th Congress House Congress Agriculture and Food Charities Conferences Congressional employees Congressional ethics Congressional officers Financial disclosure Gifts Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork House of Representatives House rules and procedure Members of Congress (House) Recreation Social Welfare Travel costs

To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to require greater disclosure of gifts.

Introduced: November 10, 1995 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 10, 1995
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 concerned.
Nov 10, 1995
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends rule XLIV (financial disclosure) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each report filed with the Clerk of the House under title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 for calendar year 1996 or any subsequent calendar year to 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 received from a relative) as adjusted under such Act.

Amends rule XLIII (Code of Official Conduct) to allow a House Member, officer, or employee to accept: (1) a gift with a fair market value of $50 (currently, $100) or less; and (2) an offer of free attendance for such individual and his or her spouse or dependent at a widely attended convention, conference, symposium, forum, panel discussion, dinner, viewing, reception, or similar event provided by the sponsor of the event if the individual participates in the event as a speaker or a panel participant by presenting information related to the Congress or matters before the Congress or by performing a ceremonial function appropriate to his or her official position, or if attendance at the event is appropriate to the performance of the official duties or representative function of the individual.

Includes within the definition of "free attendance" waiver of all or part of a conference or other fee, the provision of lodging or transportation or the provision of food, refreshments, entertainment, and instructional materials furnished to all attendees as an integral part of the event. Excludes entertainment collateral to the event and food or refreshments taken other than in a group setting with substantially all other attendees.

Permits such an individual, spouse, or dependent to accept a sponsor's unsolicited offer of free attendance at a charity event if: (1) the event is sponsored by a tax-exempt organization; (2) all expenses are paid by the sponsoring organization and not by another corporation or individual; (3) the proceeds to charity from the event exceed the costs of the event; and (4) the participation contributes in a tangible way to the success of the event.

What's happening now November 10, 1995

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 concerned.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2