[105th Congress Public Law 166]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


<DOC>
[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. <<NOTE: Apr. 6, 1998 -  [S. 758]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: Lobbying Disclosure 
Technical Amendments Act of 1998.>>  assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND REFERENCE.

    (a) Short Title.--This <<NOTE: 2 USC 1601 note.>>  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.''.

    (c) Section 5(c).--Section 5(c) (2 U.S.C. 1604(c)) is amended by 
striking paragraph (3).

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:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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