§1614 Annual Audits and Reports by Comptroller General

Summary

The Comptroller General must each year check how well lobbyists, lobbying firms, and registrants follow the rules. The check is done by randomly looking at publicly available lobbying registrations and reports filed during the calendar year. By April 1 each year, the Comptroller General must send Congress a report about the previous year. The report must say what the audit found, include an assessment of compliance with section 1603(b)(3), and give recommendations to improve compliance and to give the Department of Justice the resources and powers it needs to enforce the rules. To do this work, the Comptroller General may ask for information and documents from anyone registered under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1603(a) and from employees listed as lobbyists under section 1603(b)(6) or 1604(b)(2)(C), when the materials relate to the audit. The Comptroller General may require written answers. If someone refuses to provide requested information within 45 days, the Comptroller General may tell Congress in writing.