Contact Congress about S. 865: Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act

Lobbyists would have to say on their federal registration form whether they are using one exemption in the foreign agent law. The bill does not change who must register. It only adds this extra disclosure line.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act is a House bill awaiting final action. The latest recorded action: Held at the desk.

Latest action on S. 865: Held at the desk.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects lobbyists and lobbying firms because they would have to add one more answer to their federal registration form. It also matters to foreign clients, compliance staff, and lawyers who help prepare those filings. Watchdog groups, reporters, researchers, and government investigators could use the added disclosure to better track possible foreign ties.

Why this matters: This matters because foreign influence is hard to track when records do not clearly show how lobbyists classify their work. By adding this disclosure, the bill could make public filings easier to read and easier to compare with foreign agent rules. That could help oversight and public understanding, but the real effect would depend on how carefully people file the forms and how actively agencies review them.

Key provisions in S. 865

• This bill changes the part of the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act that lists what must go on federal lobbyist registration forms.
• It adds one new item to that form: the registrant must state whether they are exempt under section 3(h) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.
• All current registration rules stay in place. The bill adds a new statement, but it does not remove or replace anything already required.
• The bill does not change who qualifies for Foreign Agents Registration Act exemptions, including the section 3(h) exemption. It only requires people to disclose whether they are using it.
• The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the bill without changes. That shows the committee accepted the bill text as introduced.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 865

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 865

What is S. 865?

Lobbyists would have to say on their federal registration form whether they are using one exemption in the foreign agent law. The bill does not change who must register. It only adds this extra disclosure line.

How do I support or oppose S. 865?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 865?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 865 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.