§ 1601. — Findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 2USC1601]
TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 26--DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
Sec. 1601. Findings
The Congress finds that--
(1) responsible representative Government requires public
awareness of the efforts of paid lobbyists to influence the public
decisionmaking process in both the legislative and executive
branches of the Federal Government;
(2) existing lobbying disclosure statutes have been ineffective
because of unclear statutory language, weak administrative and
enforcement provisions, and an absence of clear guidance as to who
is required to register and what they are required to disclose; and
(3) the effective public disclosure of the identity and extent
of the efforts of paid lobbyists to influence Federal officials in
the conduct of Government actions will increase public confidence in
the integrity of Government.
(Pub. L. 104-65, Sec. 2, Dec. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 691.)
Effective Date
Section 24 of Pub. L. 104-65 provided that:
``(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this Act [see
Short Title note below] and the amendments made by this Act shall take
effect on January 1, 1996.
``(b) The repeals and amendments made under sections 9, 10, 11, and
12 [amending section 4804 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, section 219
of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, sections 611, 613, 614, 616,
618, and 4002 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, section
1352 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and section 1490p of Title 42, The
Public Health and Welfare, repealing sections 261 to 270 of this title
and section 3537b of Title 42, and repealing provisions set out as a
note under section 261 of this title] shall take effect as provided
under subsection (a), except that such repeals and amendments--
``(1) shall not affect any proceeding or suit commenced before
the effective date under subsection (a), and in all such proceedings
or suits, proceedings shall be had, appeals taken, and judgments
rendered in the same manner and with the same effect as if this Act
had not been enacted; and
``(2) shall not affect the requirements of Federal agencies to
compile, publish, and retain information filed or received before
the effective date of such repeals and amendments.''
Short Title of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105-166, Sec. 1(a), Apr. 6, 1998, 112 Stat. 38, provided
that: ``This Act [amending sections 1602, 1604, and 1610 of this title
and section 613 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse] may be
cited as the `Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1998'.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 104-65 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this
chapter, amending sections 3304 of Title 5, Government Organization and
Employees, section 102 of Pub. L. 95-521, set out in the Appendix to
Title 5, section 4804 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, sections 207 and
219 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, section 2171 of Title
19, Customs Duties, sections 611, 613, 614, 616, 618, 621, and 4002 of
Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, section 1352 of Title 31,
Money and Finance, and section 1490p of Title 42, The Public Health and
Welfare, repealing sections 261 to 270 of this title and section 3537b
of Title 42, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section,
section 3304 of Title 5, section 102 of Pub. L. 95-521, set out in the
Appendix to Title 5, and section 207 of Title 18, and repealing
provisions set out as a note under section 261 of this title] may be
cited as the `Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995'.''
