Howard Berman: “Under this proposal, the rule provides a limit on gifts from any one source of $50 individually, $100 cumulatively. I…”

“Under this proposal, the rule provides a limit on gifts from any one source of $50 individually, $100 cumulatively. I ask the Members to recall that 2 years ago, the rule was at the indefensibly high level of $250, and we allowed individual gifts of up to $100. It excluded all limits on local meals and all personal hospitality. Setting limits at the Senate standard of $50 and a cumulative value from any source of $100, is a vast improvement, and groups like Common Cause and Public Citizen said in November of 1995 just that when the Committee on Rules first proposed that the House adopt the Senate standard. At that time Ann McBride, President of Common Cause, told the Committee on Rules, "We strongly urge you to report to the floor the same gift and travel rules adopted by the Senate.…”