Ruling on the Propriety of an Article Published in a Department of Commerce Publication

A Congressional Committee asked GAO to rule on the propriety of an article "Renewal of the Export Administration Act: The Legislative Picture" that was published in the May 30, 1983, issue of Business America, a biweekly magazine-type trade publication of the Department of Commerce. GAO was requested to determine whether the publication of the article violated statutory restrictions against lobbying with federal funds or any other statutory restriction.

GAO found that the article violated an appropriation restriction against lobbying activities.