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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the House passed an amendment to H.R. 1 introduced by Rep. Foxx (R-N.C.) and Rep. Rouda (D-Calif.) which would codify a Senate rule that requires transparency for sources of compensation for Congressional fellowships.  While House ethics rules currently bar fellowship programs from giving an “undue advantage to special interests,” the House of Representatives lacks a reporting requirement to expose conflicts of interest. The Foxx-Rouda amendment would mandate that all Legislative Branch offices disclose the rate and source of compensation for Congressional Fellows to their chamber’s respective ethics committee.

Foxx stated, “It’s no secret that access to policy makers influences what policy takes shape. And it should not be a secret where funding for personnel in the Legislative Branch comes from.  Taxpayers have a right to know if Congressional Fellows are working on legislation pertaining to the very interest group they are being paid by to support their work in Congress, and this amendment would require just that.” 

Rep. Rouda said, “I was especially proud to work with my Republican colleague Rep. Virginia Foxx to harmonize a Senate rule with the rules of the House to shore up Congressional ethics.  The people of Orange County sent me to Congress because they were disillusioned with the nature of our partisan politics.  I’m pleased that I could find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this common-sense amendment.”

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U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is Senior Republican of the House Committee on Education and Labor.

U.S. Rep. Harley Rouda represents California’s 48th Congressional District.