Capito's Ethics Training Provision Approved as House Passes Lobbying Reform Bill
Capito's Ethics Training Provision Approved as House Passes Lobbying Reform Bill
Capito provision mandates ethics training for all House employees
WASHINGTON Ethics training for all House of Representatives employees will become mandatory under a lobbying reform bill approved today by the House of Representatives. The ethics training provision, offered by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), was part of the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 4975).
"Passing this bill was a victory for those of us who wanted to see increased transparency and accountability in the way Congress deals with lobbyists and outside groups," said Rep. Capito.
Along with requiring mandatory House employee ethics training, H.R. 4975 enhances transparency and accountability in Congress through increased disclosure and tighter rules in the way lobbyists interact with members of Congress and their staffs, fulfilling the public's right to know who is trying to influence the legislative process by establishing an online database of lobbying disclosure records. The legislation also requires more frequent filing of lobbying disclosure forms, requiring increased information, including contributions a lobbyist makes to members of Congress and staff, and increased fines and penalties for violations of the law.
Capito added, "I'm pleased that my ethics training provision was included in this bill. Elected members of Congress must set the example for maintaining a high level of integrity, but we must also put in place a process to ensure staff members are also acting in the most ethical way possible. My provision in today's bill helps ensure that."
The Capito provision in the bill establishes a mandatory ethics training program for House employees and requires it is completed at least once every two years. Employees would be required to complete the training within 30 days of being hired. The provision also authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to withhold the salary of any employee who does not complete the training within the required time frame.
http://capito.house.gov/press_office/detail-page.aspx?id=162&whichone=pr