Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be introducing legislation when Congress return from its July 4th district work period that would once again require Members of Congress to disclose details of their privately funded travel. Until recently, Members were required to disclose details of travel sponsored by private groups and organizations on their annual financial-disclosure forms. This rule, which had been on the books for more than three decades, was quietly changed by the House Ethics Committee without input from the public or Members of Congress themselves.
"These kinds of backroom deals and changing of the rules in the middle of the night is exactly why Congress has a lower approval rating than cockroaches and traffic jams. It is also the reason the American people have lost faith in those who were elected to represent them," said Loebsack. "The American people deserve to know more and have greater information about who is paying for these often times lavish trips overseas. My legislation will once again require Members of Congress to provide these details on their annual financial-disclosure forms so the American people can easily find the information."
Loebsack's bill will amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Rules of the House of Representatives to expand disclosure requirements for privately sponsored travel taken by Members of Congress. Additional details of Loebsack's legislation will be available when it is introduced.
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