Hinson Reintroduces Federal Lobbying Ban to Root Out Corruption in DC

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) reintroduced bipartisan legislation, the Promoting the Unbiased Role of Employees in the Executive Act (PURE Executive Act), with Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME-02). 

The bipartisan bill imposes a five-year ban on senior Executive Branch employees from lobbying an agency where they were employed. It also creates a lifetime ban on senior Executive Branch employees lobbying for foreign governments or companies tied to them.

“Washington insiders shouldn’t be able to leave their taxpayer-funded posts and use their status to immediately cash out and lobby their politician friends, and they should never be able to use sensitive U.S. intelligence to benefit a foreign adversary. This is exactly the kind of corruption Iowans sent me to Congress to root out – we have to drain the swamp and clean up Washington.” — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

“Senior government officials’ decisions should be about serving their country — not how to position themselves for the most profitable, influential job possible after they leave civil service. Further restricting these leaders from immediate lobbying gigs will help ensure they keep their eyes on the actual prize: better outcomes for working families." — Congressman Jared Golden

Background:

• Right now, there aren’t many limits on Executive Branch officials. Some can lobby for foreign companies or governments — or even go back and lobby the same agency they just left.
• Current law puts short bans in place — 1 year for some officials and 2 years for the most senior — but those rules don’t go far enough. In many cases, they can still work on behalf of foreign interests.
• The PURE Executive Act expands the lifetime foreign lobbying ban to include any foreign entity or corporations controlled by foreign governments, and implements a 5 year ban from lobbying their former agency.

Read the full text of the bill here. Read Rep. Hinson’s latest push to root out corruption in DC here.

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