A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit any person who is being compensated for lobbying the Federal Government from being paid on a contingency fee basis.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 4, 1995

Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any person from making any oral or written communication, with intent to influence, to any Federal agency, commission, House of Congress, or court on behalf of anyone other than the United States for compensation if such compensation has knowingly been made dependent upon: (1) any action of the Congress or the passage or defeat of legislation; or (2) the securing or the denial of a Federal grant or contract or other Federal financial assistance. Exempts lobbying to collect a debt or claim owed by the Government. Sets forth criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action to enforce this Act and to recover twice the amount of proceeds obtained due to prohibited conduct. Establishes a six-year statute of limitations for such actions.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC] · R–SC

Committees

Judiciary Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Jan 4, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 4, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S276-277)
Jan 4, 1995
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Jan 4, 1995 Formatted Text PDF

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 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.53 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

Discuss S.53, 104th Congress: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit any person who is being compensated for lobbying the Federal Government from being paid on a contingency fee basis.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/53

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s53/BILLS-104s53is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.53 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.53 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

Discuss S.53, 104th Congress: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit any person who is being compensated for lobbying the Federal Government from being paid on a contingency fee basis.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/53

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s53/BILLS-104s53is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.53 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.53 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

Discuss S.53, 104th Congress: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit any person who is being compensated for lobbying the Federal Government from being paid on a contingency fee basis.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/53

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s53/BILLS-104s53is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.53 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.53 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

Discuss S.53, 104th Congress: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit any person who is being compensated for lobbying the Federal Government from being paid on a contingency fee basis.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/53

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s53/BILLS-104s53is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.53 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.