§4726 Guidelines relating to restrictions on registered lobbyist participation in travel and disclosure

Summary

The Select Committee on Ethics must write and update rules for reviewing outside-sponsored travel for Senators. They must do this within 60 days after September 14, 2007, and then every year. The rules must say how to judge a trip and whether a sponsor’s spending is reasonable. They must cover things like the sponsor’s stated mission and past history, other educational work the sponsor does, any past ethics investigations tied to the sponsor, whether the trip’s length and itinerary match its official purpose, the link between the trip and official duties, whether the sponsor’s costs are reasonable, whether funding is directly tied to the event, and any other relevant factors. The committee must also set out what paperwork and certifications people must give to get prior approval for travel under paragraph 2 of rule XXXV of the Senate. When making the rules, the committee must use the federal maximum per diem rates from the General Services Administration, the State Department, and the Department of Defense as reference. Travel on the specific flight listed in paragraph 1(c)(1)(C)(ii) of rule XXXV is not considered a reasonable expense. The initial 60-day deadline can be extended once by 30 days by the Committee on Rules and Administration.