S. Widely Available Opportunities and Benefit

You may accept opportunities and benefits that are similarly available to others outside the House.[124] Specifically, an opportunity or benefit must meet one of the following criteria.

• Available to the public or all federal employees, regardless of geographic location;
• Offered to the members of a group or class where membership is not related to congressional employment;
• Offered to members of a group or class where membership is related to congressional employment, but similar opportunities are available to large segments of the public through similar organizations, such as credit unions or employees’ associations;
• Offered to a group or class of government employees that does not distinguish between branch of government, type of responsibility, rank, or pay grade; or
• Reduced membership or other fees offered to government employees to participate in a professional organization, if the only restrictions on membership relate to professional qualifications.

Example (Permissible). You would like to use free software to conduct a survey of your constituents. You’ve discussed the technology and cybersecurity concerns with House Information Resources and Cybersecurity, and everyone is comfortable with you using this free software. You’ve also cleared the survey’s content with the Franking Commission. The software is free to anyone who sends no more than 10,000 surveys at once. You plan to send 9,000 surveys. You may use the software without having to pay.

Example (Permissible). A hotel chain has a government employee discount that is available to all government employees, whether or not they are on official travel. You may also accept the discount when staying at that hotel chain.

Example (Permissible). You accumulated enough frequent flyer miles to earn a free first-class ticket. The frequent flyer program is available to anyone who wishes to sign up. You may accept the free first-class ticket.

Example (Permissible). You are a member of the Congressional Federal Credit Union. The Congressional Federal Credit Union joined with an insurance company to offer discounted car insurance rates Congressional Federal Credit Union members. You may sign up for the discounted car insurance through the Congressional Federal Credit Union.

Example (Permissible). You are a lawyer. Your state bar provides continuing legal education classes and offers a reduced rate for those classes to its members who are government employees. You may accept the reduced rate for those classes.

Example (Impermissible). A local, privately-run gym offers reduced membership fees to congressional employees. You must show your congressional ID to receive the reduced rate. The gym does not extend this offer to all federal employees or all government employees. You may not accept the reduced membership fee.[125]

[125] This example does not preclude membership in the fitness centers provided on House grounds, reduced childcare rates at the House daycare center, or any other discounts that the House procures under contract. You may accept the discounts the House procures under contract as services provided under contracts with the federal government. See Gifts from Federal, State, or Local Governments for more information.

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Example (Permissible). You are invited to appear on a Sunday morning talk show, which will be filmed in D.C. You live approximately 15 miles from the studio. The studio offers to send a car to pick you up. The studio usually offers car service to its guests that live locally.[126] You may accept the car service.

[126] Local transportation means within 35 miles of the Capitol or the closest district office.

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