BLAST Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9130
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-26T16:58:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to prevent former Members of Congress and elected officers from engaging in lobbying activities directed at Congress after they leave office, thereby reducing potential conflicts of interest and the influence of the "revolving door" between Congress and lobbying.
Key Provisions
- Lifetime Lobbying Ban: Amends 18 U.S.C. § 207(e) to prohibit any former Senator, House Member, or elected officer of either chamber from:
- Registering as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or
- Knowingly communicating with or appearing before Members, officers, or employees of Congress (or legislative offices) to influence official actions on behalf of any client other than the United States.
- Expanded Lobbyist Definition: Updates the Lobbying Disclosure Act (2 U.S.C. § 1602) to explicitly classify former Members of Congress as lobbyists if they are compensated for making lobbying contacts or engaging in lobbying activities.
- Conforming Changes: Removes references to elected officers from related restrictions on staff, streamlining the law.
- Effective Date: Applies only to individuals who leave office on or after the date the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Current law imposes time-limited "cooling-off" periods (typically one to two years) on former Members before they may lobby Congress. This bill replaces those limits with a permanent, lifetime prohibition. It also broadens the definition of "lobbyist" to capture former Members who perform lobbying work without necessarily registering.
Potential Impacts
- On Government: Restricts post-service employment options for Members and officers, potentially affecting recruitment and retention in Congress.
- On Citizens and Lobbying Industry: Limits opportunities for former officials to work as lobbyists targeting Congress, which could reduce the number of experienced lobbyists available to represent interests before the legislative branch.
- On International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Current and future Members of Congress and elected officers.
- Individuals and firms engaged in lobbying Congress.
- Advocacy organizations and clients that rely on former congressional staff or Members for representation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill creates a lifetime restriction on certain forms of speech and employment for a specific group of former federal officials. This could raise questions about First Amendment protections for lobbying and equal protection considerations, though the legislation itself does not address these issues. Politically, it strengthens ethics rules aimed at public trust in government.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Banning Lobbying And Safeguarding Trust Act — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (4 pages)