Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act” or the “BLAST Act”.
Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust Act
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members and elected officers of Congress from lobbying Congress at any time after leaving office.
Sec. 2 Prohibiting former Members and officers of Congress from lobbying Congress
Prohibition— Section 207(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
“(1) Members and elected officers of Congress—Any person who is a Senator, a Member of the House of Representatives, or an elected officer of the Senate or the House of Representatives and who, after that person leaves office, knowingly makes, with the intent to influence, any communication to or appearance before any Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress or any employee of any other legislative office of the Congress, on behalf of any other person (except the United States) in connection with any matter on which such former Senator, Member, or elected official seeks action by a Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress, in his or her official capacity, shall be punished as provided in section 216 of this title.”
Conforming amendments— Section 207(e)(2) of such title is amended—
in the heading, by striking “Officers and staff” and inserting “Staff”;
by striking “an elected officer of the Senate, or”;
by striking “leaves office or employment” and inserting “leaves employment”; and
by striking “former elected officer or”.
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to an individual who leaves office on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.