,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bef ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #be1 #bjbe,mr4 ,blumenthal introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,president to publish a statement of reasons for pardons1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pardon ,transparency and ,accountability ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,executive clemency ,the term executive clemency-- 7,a7 means any exercise by the ,president of the power to grant reprieves or pardons under clause #a of section #b of article ,,ii of the ,constitution of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 includes any pardon1 commutation1 reprieve1 or remission of a fine4 7#b7 ,victim ,the term victim has the meaning given the term in section #ejc7;e7 of the ,victims' ,rights and ,restitution ,act of #aiij 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #bjada7;e774 #c4 ,statement of reasons for pardons ,on the date on which any grant of executive clemency is made1 the ,president shall publish in the ,federal ,register and on the official website of the ,president a written explanation of the reasons for granting such executive clemency4 #d4 ,duties of the ,pardon ,attorney 7a7 ,justice ,impact ,statement ,the ,pardon ,attorney shall1 as soon as the ,pardon ,attorney becomes aware of any potential grant of executive clemency being considered by the ,president1 begin preparing a ,justice ,impact ,statement1 which shall be made available to the ,president and ,congress as soon as practicable but not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,pardon ,attorney becomes so aware1 and which shall include-- 7#a7 a description of the efforts of the ,pardon ,attorney-- 7,a7 to contact victims as required under subsection 7c77#a72 and 7,b7 to make each determination required under paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 any written statement submitted by a victim under subsection 7c77#a74 7b7 ,notification ,any employee of the ,department of ,justice or ,executive ,office of the ,president who learns that the ,president is considering a grant of executive clemency shall immediately inform the ,pardon ,attorney of such consideration4 7c7 ,determinations required ,in the preparation of any ,justice ,impact ,statement under subsection 7a71 the ,pardon ,attorney shall make all reasonable efforts to-- 7#a7 inform the victims of any crime committed by the person receiving a grant of executive clemency that they may submit written statements for inclusion in the ,justice ,impact ,statement prepared by the ,pardon ,attorney2 7#b7 determine the opinions of the victims described in paragraph 7#a7 regarding the potential grant of executive clemency2 and 7#c7 determine the opinions of the ,attorney ,general1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 and other ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal law enforcement officials1 as appropriate1 as to the potential impact of the grant of executive clemency on the success of any ongoing investigation or prosecution4 7d7 ,justice ,impact ,statement completion ,the ,justice ,impact ,statement required under subsection 7a7 shall be completed and submitted even if submitted after executive clemency is granted4 #e4 ,pardon lobbying disclosure 7a7 ,definitions ,section #c of the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afjb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#h7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 in clause 7iii71 by striking or after the semicolon2 7ii7 in clause 7iv71 by striking the period and inserting 2 or2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7v7 the issuance of a grant of executive clemency1 as defined in section #b of the ,pardon ,transparency and ,accountability ,act of #bjbe1 in the form of a pardon1 commutation of sentence1 reprieve1 or remission of fine4 2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b77xii71 by striking made to and inserting except as provided in subparagraph 7,a77v71 made to2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#aj71 by inserting after the word period the following3 1 or any individual who is employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation for services that include not fewer than #a lobbying contact relating to a potential grant of executive clemency1 as defined in section #b of the ,pardon ,transparency and ,accountability ,act of #bjbe1 regardless of the percent of the services provided by the individual to that client that consist of lobbying activities4 7b7 ,registration of lobbyists ,section #d of the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,registration relating to grants of executive clemency ,not later than #b days after the date on which a lobbyist first makes a lobbying contact pertaining to a potential grant of executive clemency1 as defined in section #b of the ,pardon ,transparency and ,accountability ,act of #bjbe1 or is employed or retained to make a lobbying contact pertaining to a potential grant of executive clemency1 as so defined in that ,act1 whichever is earlier1 such lobbyist 7or the organization employing such lobbyist7 shall register with the ,secretary of the ,senate and the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives in accordance with the requirements of this section1 regardless of the total income or expenses related to such lobbying activities4 4 7c7 ,reports by registered lobbyists ,section #e of the ,lobbying ,disclosure ,act of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #afjd7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,lobbying contacts relating to executive clemency ,not later than #b days after a lobbying contact pertaining to a potential grant of executive clemency1 as defined in section #b of the ,pardon ,transparency and ,accountability ,act of #bjbe1 each registrant shall file a report with the ,secretary of the ,senate and the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives containing the information described in subsection 7b7 relating to the lobbying contact pertaining to the potential grant of executive clemency4 4 #f4 ,studies and reports 7a7 ,studies 7#a7 ,in general ,beginning on the date that is #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every other year thereafter1 the ,pardon ,attorney shall conduct a study on the extent of compliance or noncompliance with this ,act4 7#b7 ,reports to ,congress ,not later than ,april #a of each year following the completion of the study required under subsection1 the ,pardon ,attorney shall submit to ,congress a report containing the findings of the study and any recommendations to improve compliance with this ,act4 #g4 ,severability ,if any provision of this ,act1 an amendment made by this ,act1 or the application of such a provision or amendment to any particular person or circumstance is held invalid1 the remaining provisions of this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act1 and the application of such remaining provisions and amendments to any other person or circumstance1 shall not be affected thereby4