Public Disclosure of Lobbying Act of 1977

This document discusses H.R. 8494, entitled the "Public Disclosure Lobbying Act of 1977," which would replace the lobbying disclosure law, the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, with a comprehensive new statute defining the organizations that must register and report as lobbyists and specifically describing the information that those organizations must disclose. The bill would provide the investigative and enforcement powers needed to make the proposed law effective, and the Comptroller General would be the official with primary responsibility for administering and, to a somewhat lesser extent, enforcing the new lobbying disclosure law. Further, the purpose of this document is to confirm GAO’s communications with the Congressional Committee in which GAO indicated that GAO is willing and able to perform the administrative and enforcement functions contemplated by H.R. 8494, and to allay any concerns to the contrary. Although GAO did not actively solicit these responsibilities, GAO determined that the General Accounting Office, as an agency of the legislative branch of Government, is the most appropriate agency to administer and enforce a disclosure measure that covers lobbying on legislative matters. Finally, GAO considered the Comptroller General's enforcement duties under H.R. 8494 necessary to the effective administration of any new lobbying law.