Charles T. Canady: “Mr. Speaker, S. 758 the Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1997 addresses several technical issues which…”

“Mr. Speaker, S. 758 the Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1997 addresses several technical issues which have been raised during the initial months of implementation of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Once the Lobbying Disclosure Act was implemented by the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate, several minor problems with the language of the statute became apparent. The offices of the Clerk and the Secretary have sought to interpret the Lobbying Disclosure Act with respect to these problems in accordance with the original intent of the law, but this technical corrections bill is necessary to clarify the language of the Act to ensure compliance with the Act's original intention. In 1996, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) and I sponsored similar legislation, H.R. 3435, which passed the House under suspension of the rules by voice vote. A dispute over one of the provisions contained in the bill precluded that bill from passing in the Senate in the last Congress. Except for the removal of this section and one other, the language contained in S. 758 is identical to H.R. 3435. The amendments made by S. 758 will strengthen what is already widely viewed as a significant and successful law.”