Lobbying prohibition, congress, member of congress

4.1.17 Lobbying Prohibition

Recipients of Federal grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and loans are prohibited by 31 U.S.C. 1352, "Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions," from using appropriated Federal funds to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence any officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress with respect to the award, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any of these instruments. These requirements are implemented for HHS in 45 CFR Part 93, which also describes types of activities, such as legislative liaison activities and professional and technical services, which are not subject to this prohibition under certain circumstances.

Applicants for NIH awards are required to certify and disclose that they:

• have not made, and will not make, such a prohibited payment;
• used or will use non-appropriated funds if they have made or agreed to make such payment; and
• will include these requirements in consortium agreements and contracts under grants that will exceed $100,000 and obtain necessary certifications from those consortium participants and contractors.

Certifications and disclosures must be filed at the times prescribed in the regulations based on the expected total costs.

The signature of the AOR on the application serves as the required certification of compliance for the applicant organization. Disclosure reporting is addressed in Administrative Requirements-Monitoring-Reporting.

See also Appropriation Public Policy Requirements Mandates Lobbying-Appropriation Prohibition for additional restrictions.