The Committee on Ethics (Committee) appointed a bipartisan working group to draft proposed regulations governing House Members, officers, and employees’ outside positions. The working group consists of Representative Susan Wild and Representative Van Taylor.
House Resolution 6 (H. Res. 6) created a new clause in the Code of Conduct effective January 1, 2020. Under that new clause, “A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House may not serve as an officer or director of any public company” [as defined by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934]. H. Res. 6 also requires that, “[n]ot later than December 31, 2019, the Committee on Ethics shall develop regulations addressing other types of prohibited service or positions that could lead to conflicts of interest.”
Pursuant to H. Res. 6, the working group continues to study what types of service or positions with outside entities may lead to actual or perceived conflicts of interest. The Committee encourages Members, officers, and employees who may have questions about outside positions to call the Committee for further guidance.
The Outside Positions Working Group previously solicited written comments from the public concerning the Committee’s mandate. To further assist the Working Group in fulfilling the Committee’s mandate, the Working Group will meet to hear from entities that submitted comments to the Committee. The session will be open to the public.
Members of the public wishing to observe the Outside Positions Working Group discussion can attend on July 25, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. EDT, in 1310 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515.
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