Number: RL33237
Title: Congressional Gifts and Travel: Proposals for the 109th Congress
Authors: Mildred Amer, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: It has been a decade since the House and Senate examined their rules on the acceptance of gifts and travel expenses. Press accounts of alleged excesses in privately funded congressional travel and gifts, particularly from lobbyists, have provided an impetus for proposed changes in the 109th Congress. Proposals discussed thus far and related to congressional gifts and travel all focus on some aspect of lobbyists and lobbying and include changes to (1) requirements for the disclosure reports required by the Lobbying Disclosure Act; (2) permissible gifts, including meals, given to Members of Congress under the current congressional gift rules; and (3) the various types of officially-connected travel Members, officers, and employees of Congress are allowed under current rules.
Pages: 8
Date: May 12, 2006