Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act

DOCID: f:publ166.105]
[[Page 112 STAT. 38]]
Public Law 105-166
105th Congress

An Act

To make certain technical corrections to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND REFERENCE.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited
as the ``Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1998''.

(b) Reference.--Whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is
expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF COVERED EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIAL.

Section 3(3)(F) (2 U.S.C. 1602(3)(F)) is amended by striking
``7511(b)(2)'' and inserting ``7511(b)(2)(B)''.

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF EXCEPTION TO LOBBYING CONTACT.

(a) Certain Communications.--Section 3(8)(B)(ix) (2 U.S.C.
1602(8)(B)(ix)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon the
following: ``, including any communication compelled by a Federal
contract, grant, loan, permit, or license''.
(b) Definition of ``Public Official''.--Section 3(15)(F) (2 U.S.C.
1602(15)(F)) is amended by inserting ``, or a group of governments
acting together as an international organization'' before the period.

SEC. 4. ESTIMATES BASED ON TAX REPORTING SYSTEM.

(a) Section 15(a).--Section 15(a) (2 U.S.C. 1610(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``A registrant'' and inserting ``A person,
other than a lobbying firm,''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) for all other purposes consider as lobbying contacts
and lobbying activities only--
``(A) lobbying contacts with covered legislative
branch officials (as defined in section 3(4)) and
lobbying activities in support of such contacts; and
``(B) lobbying of Federal executive branch officials
to the extent that such activities are influencing
legislation as defined in section 4911(d) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.

(b) Section 15(b).--Section 15(b) (2 U.S.C. 1610(b)) is amended--

[[Page 112 STAT. 39]]

(1) by striking ``A registrant that is subject to'' and
inserting ``A person, other than a lobbying firm, who is
required to account and does account for lobbying expenditures
pursuant to''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) for all other purposes consider as lobbying contacts
and lobbying activities only--
``(A) lobbying contacts with covered legislative
branch officials (as defined in section 3(4)) and
lobbying activities in support of such contacts; and
``(B) lobbying of Federal executive branch officials
to the extent that amounts paid or costs incurred in
connection with such activities are not deductible
pursuant to section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.''.

SEC. 5. EXEMPTION BASED ON REGISTRATION UNDER LOBBYING ACT.

Section 3(h) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22
U.S.C. 613(h)) is amended by striking ``is required to register and does
register'' and inserting ``has engaged in lobbying activities and has
registered''.

Approved April 6, 1998.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 758:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-147 (Comm. on Governmental Affairs).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 143 (1997): Nov. 13, considered and passed Senate.
Vol. 144 (1998): Mar. 18, considered and passed House.

Lobbying Disclosure

Office of the Clerk, United States House of Representatives

Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act