N. Gifts from Outside Business and Other Activities

You may accept gifts that are offered to you because of your activities or employment outside of the House or your spouse’s activities or employment outside of the House.[110] You may accept these gifts if

• The gifts were not offered or enhanced because of your position with the House, and
• The gifts are customarily provided to others in similar circumstances.

Example (Permissible). An organization hosts trips abroad for young Americans to visit the countries of their heritage. The organization pays for all the travel expenses. The application for these trips only asks for your cultural background and does not ask about your current employment or ask for a resume. You applied for the trip and were accepted. Because you met the criteria for the trip and your House employment was not included in the application process at all, you may accept the trip.

Example (Additional Action Required). Same example above, but the organization also hosts trips for “Young Leaders” to those countries. As part of the application process, you included your current employment, a copy of your resume, and answered essay questions about your leadership experience. Because your House employment was part of the application process, you may not accept the trip as related to your outside activities. You may, however, seek a waiver from the Committee to participate in the trip. See General Waiver for more information.

Example (Permissible). You serve on the board of a 501(c)(3) charity. Each year the charity pays for one night’s lodging for each of its board members to attend the charity’s annual meeting. Because all the board members are offered the same lodging, you may accept the offer as well. However, you may not accept a nicer room than any of the other board members.

Example (Permissible). Your spouse is a real estate agent and a top seller in the market. For being a top seller, your spouse received an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii for your spouse and a guest. Your spouse offers to bring you on this trip. Because the offer is related to your spouse’s employment and is not related at all to your position with the House, you may travel with your spouse.

Example (Impermissible). Same example as above. However, although all employees at your spouse’s real estate firm may bring a guest of their choosing, the real estate firm specifically asks your spouse to invite you because you work for the House. You may not accept the trip because it was offered due to your position with the House.

Example (Impermissible). A local sports team in your district established an advisory council and asks you to join. The advisory council mostly consists of area elected officials or their staff. Each advisory council member gets season tickets to the sports team’s home games. Even though you may only participate in the advisory council in your personal capacity, you were invited to participate because of your position with the House. Therefore, you may not accept the season tickets.

Example (Permissible). You started looking for a new position off the Hill. You interviewed with one private company and were invited back for a second interview. All second interviews with this company take place over lunch at a restaurant, and the company pays. You may accept the lunch during the second interview.

Example (Impermissible). A private company reached out to you to talk about a job offer. The company is headquartered on the other side of the country. Typically, the company flies its candidates out to meet at headquarters. The company usually only covers coach class airfare, but because they would like you to be their rainmaker, they offer to pay for first class airfare for you. You may only accept the coach class ticket from the company. You may upgrade your ticket using your own resources or accept a free upgrade from the airline if it is a widely-available benefit.