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Public Service Integrity Act
12/15/2023, 3:56 PM
Summary of Bill HR 2514
One key provision of the bill is the creation of a new Office of Public Integrity, which will be responsible for investigating allegations of wrongdoing by federal employees and officials. This office will have the authority to conduct audits, interviews, and other investigative activities to ensure that government employees are acting in the best interests of the public.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to protect whistleblowers who come forward with information about misconduct within the government. Whistleblowers will be granted legal protections against retaliation, and the bill establishes a process for reporting and investigating whistleblower complaints. Furthermore, the Public Service Integrity Act requires federal agencies to establish ethics training programs for their employees, in order to promote a culture of integrity and ethical behavior within the government. Agencies will also be required to disclose any financial conflicts of interest that may exist among their employees. Overall, the Public Service Integrity Act seeks to strengthen the ethical standards and accountability measures within the federal government, in order to ensure that public officials are acting in the best interests of the American people.
Congressional Summary of HR 2514
Public Service Integrity Act
This bill expands the post-employment ban on lobbying by former Senators, former Members of the House of Representatives, and certain former congressional officers and employees.
Currently, former Senators are banned from lobbying for two years, while former Representatives are banned for one year. The bill increases the ban to five years.
Additionally, current law bans lobbying by former House and Senate officers and staff of Member offices, committees, and other legislative offices for one year. The bill increases the ban to two years.
The bill also makes more former congressional employees subject to the post-employment lobbying ban by lowering the income threshold at which the ban applies. Currently, the ban applies to any employee who, while employed by a Member of Congress, earned more than 75% of that Member's basic rate of pay. The bill lowers that threshold to 50% of the employing Member's rate of pay.
