PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Ethics in Government Reform Act of 1995

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 4, 1995

Ethics in Government Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal criminal code to increase specified post-employment restrictions on: (1) the Vice President of the United States; (2) certain full-time noncareer employees in the Executive Office of the President and presidential, vice presidential, or agency head appointees in the executive branch whose basic rate of pay is at least $80,000 per year (senior executive branch officials); (3) Members of Congress; and (4) congressional employees paid at least $80,000 per year (senior staff). Prohibits the Vice President and senior executive branch officials from: (1) lobbying their former agencies (except on behalf of the United States) for five years after termination of their service or employment; and (2) lobbying other executive branch officials (except on behalf of the United States) for two years after termination of their service or employment. Prohibits for five years following employment termination any full-time noncareer employees in the Executive Office of the President from lobbying (except on behalf of the United States) on a matter in which they had substantial involvement. Prohibits for life any lobbying by persons covered by this Act, including the President, on behalf of a foreign entity, and reception of any gifts (with specified exceptions) from a foreign government or foreign political party. Prohibits, for life, senior executive branch officials, Members of Congress, and congressional senior staff who have acted as trade negotiators from lobbying on behalf of a foreign entity, or advising for compensation a foreign entity on how best to lobby the U.S. Government. Prohibits Members of Congress and congressional senior staff from lobbying (except on behalf of the United States): (1) the entire Congress for two years following termination of service or employment; and (2) their former committees and employing entities for five years following service or employment termination. Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act, as well as general exceptions to its provisions.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R–AZ

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S378-379)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.129 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.129 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.129 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.129 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources