,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bfbb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #ag1 #bjai,mr4 ,bennet 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,gardner1 and ,mr4 ,tester7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to provide greater controls and restrictions on revolving door lobbying4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,close the ,revolving ,door ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,lifetime ban on ,members of ,congress from lobbying 7a7 ,in general ,section #bjg7;e77#a7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 ,members of ,congress ,any person who is a ,senator1 a ,member of the ,house of ,representatives1 or an elected officer of the ,senate or the ,house of ,representatives and who1 after that person leaves office1 knowingly makes1 with the intent to influence1 any communication to or appearance before any ,member1 officer1 or employee of either ,house of ,congress or any employee of any other legislative office of the ,congress1 on behalf of any other person 7except the ,united ,states7 in connection with any matter on which such former ,senator1 ,member1 or elected official seeks action by a ,member1 officer1 or employee of either ,house of ,congress1 in his or her official capacity1 shall be punished as provided in section #baf of this title4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #bjg7;e77#b7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the heading1 by striking ,officers and staff and inserting ,staff2 7#b7 by striking an elected officer of the ,senate1 or2 7#c7 by striking leaves office or employment and inserting leaves employment2 and 7#d7 by striking former elected officer or4 #c4 ,congressional staff ,paragraphs 7#b71 7#c77;,a71 7#d71 7#e77;,a71 and 7#f77;,a7 of section #bjg7;e7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 are each amended by striking #a year and inserting #f years4 #d4 ,improved reporting of lobbyists' activities ,section #f of the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afje7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7c7 ,joint web site 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,senate and the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives shall maintain a joint lobbyist disclosure internet database for information required to be publicly disclosed under this ,act which shall be an easily searchable ,web site called lobbyists4gov with a stated goal of simplicity of usage4 7#b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection #ajj1jjj for fiscal year #bjai4 4 #e4 ,lobbyist revolving door to ,congress 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term foreign principal has the meaning given that term under section #a7;b7 of the ,foreign ,agents ,registration ,act of #aich1 as amended 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #faa7;b772 7#b7 the terms lobbyist and lobbying contact have the meanings given such terms under section #c of the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afjb72 and 7#c7 the term registered lobbyist means a lobbyist registered under the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq474 7b7 ,prohibition ,any person who is a registered lobbyist or an agent of a foreign principal may not1 within #f years after that person leaves such position1 be hired by a ,member or committee of either ,house of ,congress with whom the registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal has had substantial lobbying contact4 7c7 ,waiver ,this section may be waived in the ,senate or the ,house of ,representatives by the ,select ,committee on ,ethics of the ,senate or the ,committee on ,standards of ,official ,conduct of the ,house of ,representatives1 respectively1 based on a compelling national need4 7d7 ,substantial lobbying contact ,for purposes of this section1 in determining whether a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal has had substantial lobbying contact within the applicable period of time1 a ,member or committee of either ,house of ,congress shall take into consideration whether the individual's lobbying contacts have pertained to pending legislative business1 or related to solicitation of an earmark or other ,federal funding1 particularly if such contacts included the coordination of meetings with the ,member or committee1 involved presentations to employees of the ,member or committee1 or participation in fundraising 7except for the mere giving of a personal contribution74 ,simple social contacts with the ,member or committee of either ,house of ,congress and staff1 shall not by themselves constitute substantial lobbying contacts4 #f4 ,reporting by substantial lobbying entities ,the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #f the following3 #f;,a4 ,reporting by substantial lobbying entities 7a7 ,in general ,a substantial lobbying entity shall file on an annual basis with the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,secretary of the ,senate a list of each employee of1 individual under contract with1 or individual who provides paid consulting services to the substantial lobbying entity who is-- 7#a7 a former ,senator or a former ,member of the ,house of ,representatives2 or 7#b7 another covered legislative branch official who-- 7,a7 was paid not less than #ajj1jjj in any #a year as a covered legislative branch official2 7,b7 worked for a total of not less than #d years as a covered legislative branch official2 or 7,c7 had a job title at any time while employed as a covered legislative branch official that contained any of the following terms3 ,chief of ,staff1 ,legislative ,director1 ,staff ,director1 ,counsel1 ,professional ,staff ,member1 ,communications ,director1 or ,press ,secretary4 7b7 ,contents of filing ,the filing required under this section shall contain a brief job description of each individual described in subsection 7a7 and an explanation of their work experience under subsection 7a7 that requires this filing4 7c7 ,improved reporting of substantial lobbying entities ,the joint ,web site being maintained by the ,secretary of the ,senate and the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives1 known as lobbyists4gov1 shall include an easily searchable database entitled ,substantial ,lobbying ,entities that includes information on all individuals described in subsection 7a74 7d7 ,law enforcement oversight ,the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,secretary of the ,senate shall provide a copy of each filing under subsection 7a7 to the ,united ,states ,attorney for the ,district of ,columbia1 to allow the ,united ,states ,attorney for the ,district of ,columbia to determine whether a substantial lobbying entity is underreporting the lobbying activities of its employees1 individuals under contract1 or individuals who provide paid consulting services4 7e7 ,substantial lobbying entity ,in this section1 the term substantial lobbying entity means an incorporated entity that employs more than #c registered lobbyists during a filing period4 4 #g4 ,enhanced penalties ,section #g7;a7 of the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afjf7;a77 is amended by striking #bjj1jjj and inserting #ejj1jjj4