HLOGA did not change the manner in which lobbyists disclose the issues and matters for which they are retained to lobby. According to the LDA Guidance, for these purposes a lobbyist must disclose:
- The issues on which the lobbying activities will be focused, using the issue codes established by the House and Senate
- A brief description of the legislation, policy, or other information about the lobbying issue
- Where the lobbying activities will be focused: House of Representatives, Senate, or a particular federal agency or office
- The identity of each lobbyist employee engaged in the lobbying activities described above
It is not sufficient to just list a bill number as the description of the lobbying issue area. The instructions for preparation of the LD-1 provide:
SPECIFIC LOBBYING ISSUES: Identify the client’s specific issues that have been addressed (as of the date of the registration) or are likely to be addressed in lobbying activities. Include, for example, specific bills before Congress or specific executive branch actions.
BE SPECIFIC, but brief. Bill numbers alone do not satisfy the requirements for reporting on this line and restatement of the general issue code is insufficient. Use the following format to describe legislation: Bill number, bill title, and description of the specific section(s) of interest, i.e.:
“H.R. 3610, Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 1996, Title 2, all provisions relating to environmental restoration.”
For specific issues other than legislation, provide detailed descriptions of lobbying efforts. Do not leave line blank. No additional space is available, so please abbreviate and enter the information in paragraph format to maximize space.
For more information or to purchase the Lobbying Compliance Handbook click here.
Tags: guidelines, LDA, lobbying activities, reporting
