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INFORMATION ABOUT MY TRAVELS AS YOUR SENATOR |
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I understand that the most effective way to do my job as your United States Senator is to listen to the concerns of the people I represent. A senator’s work is not done sitting behind a desk in Washington, a philosophy I have embraced since the beginning of my Senate term.
At the same time, I realize there are currently many questions and concerns surrounding Congressional travel given some of the recent problems in Washington. With that in mind, I am committing to making any and all information about my private travel easily accessible to my constituents via my Senate website. While these trips have already been reported as required by Senate rules, I want to ensure that my records are as available and easily accessible as possible in the interest of full and complete disclosure.
Ensuring the public’s trust in government is one of my utmost concerns. As the saying goes, sunlight is the best disinfectant and I believe greater transparency in Washington will help alleviate many of these problems. To put us on that path, I have coauthored the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005 (S. 2128) with Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT). This bill will require the faster reporting of lobbying expenditures and greater public access to reports filed by lobbyists and their employers; increase disclosure by lobbyists, lawmakers and congressional staff of travel arranged or financed by lobbyists or clients; and require members of Congress to notify the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate if their discussions with potential new employers pose any conflicts of interests.
Additionally, I am troubled by some of the political finger-pointing and attempts to “one-up” each other that seem to be overshadowing an honest discussion on these issues. Instead, I believe we need to have a thoughtful, honest debate about how to better reform the system as a whole. In order to achieve that goal, I will introduce legislation to create the Senate Commission to Strengthen Confidence in Congress. This commission would create an independent entity that would operate outside of the institution of the Senate to review ideas and to provide a series of recommendations to the Senate on how to best address the related concerns of the American people. I believe an independent commission is the best way to ensure transparency and accountably become commonplace in Congress and I am hopeful my colleagues will support this measure.
That said, there is no question that I have traveled extensively during my first three years in the Senate. To be clear: the majority of my travel has taken place right at home in Minnesota. I am proud to say that, in my first three years in the Senate, my staff and I have combined to visit all 853 Minnesota cities – whether large or small, metro or rural, on or off the main highway. Click here to see my visit to the city of Winnebago—the last city on my tour around Minnesota. I have personally made over 150 separate trips to 75 different communities, including more than 50 town hall forums and listening sessions throughout Minnesota. I am proud to have met with so many Minnesotans and discuss their concerns face-to-face. Over the next three years, I look forward to speaking and listening to more Minnesotans as frequently as possible. Click here for a current list of my listening sessions.
A Senator’s job also requires reaching out to people across the United States in order to gather support for Minnesota’s priorities. The United States Senate is a body in which personal relationships among Senators are vitally important to getting things accomplished. Understanding the various concerns and issues of other Senators, as well as those of organizations and individuals from across the country, allows a first-term Senator like me to be more effective in promoting Minnesota’s goals. As a result, I traveled to several points around the country to work for Minnesota. For instance, I traveled throughout the United States as part of my effort to obtain a leadership position in the Senate, which would have made me even more effective in achieving Minnesota’s priorities. Similarly, due to the unique and well-publicized nature of my election to the Senate, I was asked to speak at numerous events throughout the country, which also allowed me to support my colleagues and to promote Minnesota’s goals to a nationwide audience. Put simply, my travel across the United States has made me more effective at getting things done in the Senate for the people of Minnesota.
In addition to my travel in Minnesota and across the United States, my job as a Senator also requires that I travel abroad. In particular, my committee assignments and oversight responsibilities demand that I travel to certain places around the world. For example, my duties as Chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations have included oversight trips to ports in the United States and Hong Kong to evaluate port security, economic opportunities for Minnesota companies and potential vulnerabilities as a result of smuggled weapons of mass destruction. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics, I have traveled to Columbia to learn firsthand this struggling democracy’s challenge of fighting narco-terrorists and human rights, and to Brazil to study renewable energy strategies with enormous potential for Minnesota and the United States. Click here for a case study of a typical fact-finding official Senate trip to Brazil.
Also, as a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, I have traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit our troops and see the progress of our rebuilding efforts firsthand. Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: while I have traveled to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and Brazil on official business, the majority of my travel has taken place at home in Minnesota. As I traveled around the State recently, some Minnesotans have raised concerns about some of the news coming out of Washington, D.C. about the activities of a small group of legislators and lobbyists. The question keeps coming up: Is that business as usual in Washington?
As a threshold matter, let me be perfectly clear: I have never taken a trip paid for by a lobbyist.
Moreover, I believe that the actions of certain individuals, such as lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his cohorts, are reprehensible and inexcusable. In addition, if it is determined that individuals such as former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay acted illegally, they should pay a severe penalty for violating their oath of office and their obligations to their constituents. Politicians are ordinary people who have been given extraordinary responsibilities. The American people understand that honest mistakes can be made, but they will not countenance outright fraud, dishonesty or the reckless disregard for the rules and laws that govern the conduct of Members of Congress.
I share that outrage and that I have long insisted that the facts of my travel, such as where I travel and the purpose of my trips, have been a matter of public record. I also believe we must be mindful of the concerns some may have about who is paying for these trips, and how those trips help the constituents of Minnesota. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” As Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I have worked hard to improve government accountability and transparency and to expose waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. Under my leadership, the Subcommittee has identified nearly $10 billion in waste, fraud or abuse in the federal government. Click here for a chart of waste, fraud, and abuse exposed by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
In that same spirit of accountability and transparency, I have set up a link to answer any concerns about my travel over the past three years. As part of this effort to better serve you, I am also posting detailed records of my Senate travel both in and out of state. In addition to posting the records concerning my travels, I am going one step further: effectively immediately, I have instructed my staff to add an additional measure of transparency to my reporting obligations under Senate Rules and Ethics. All of my travel, including taxpayer-funded and non-taxpayer-funded travel, will be posted on my Senate website within 7 days of the trip being completed.
Below you will find some of the common questions and concerns about travel and the legislative process that Minnesotans have raised concerns about around the state:
What is the purpose of Congressional travel?
Congressional travel serves a critical public policy purpose. It enables Members of Congress to gather first hand information about vital public policy matters. Travel also allows Members of Congress to meet with groups and organizations that have a legitimate interest in learning about initiatives or issues the Member will be asked to vote on, and has significant importance to the Member’s home state and its priorities.
For Minnesota, the policy-driven trips I have taken have also helped me build key relationships with my colleagues and have paved the way for several Senate successes, including increased low income heating assistance, support for rural infrastructure projects, a clean coal plant for the Iron Range, and assistance for sugar farmers.
What is private paid travel?
Let me first say what it is not. It is not travel paid for by lobbyists. To reiterate, I have never taken a trip paid for by a lobbyist. Non-taxpayer-funded travel is paid for by associations or specific industries for the purpose of educating Members on specific issues, legislation, and important projects. By raising awareness of issues and building networks of support among other legislators and organizations, a Congressional Member can be effective in gaining support for key initiatives.
Have you taken non-taxpayer funded trips?
Yes. Like every other Member of our Minnesota Congressional delegation, I have taken non-taxpayer funded trips that are important to official Senate business and Minnesota’s priorities. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Chairman of two major subcommittees, it is vitally important for me to meet with foreign leaders and my legislative counterparts to discuss issues that are critical to a better understanding of our foreign policy. To be an effective Senator for Minnesota, it is essential for me to participate in both the national and international arena. Click here for information on organizations sponsoring non-taxpayer funded travel.
I also want to stress that I do not believe that taxpayers should have to pay for every trip that a Member of Congress takes. There are legitimate and worthwhile organizations that have legitimate reasons to meet with, and hear from, Members of Congress. It is only appropriate that those organizations cover the expenses of that travel. Obviously, it is important that this information is reported to ensure that the public is aware of the purpose of the travel, and who covered the costs of the travel. Click here for a current list of my travel around the country and abroad.
Who else takes non-taxpayer funded trips?
Since 2000, every member of the Minnesota delegation, including myself, has been on at least 1 non-taxpayer funded trip. Over 90 Members of the United States Senate, Democrats and Republicans, have traveled on non-taxpayer funded trips.
Is non-taxpayer funded travel legal?
Non-taxpayer paid travel is legal and is within the guidelines of Senate Rules and Ethics. Strict ethical guidelines govern Congressional travel. Congressional travel has at times been abused and those guidelines ignored. I am very sensitive to the ethical concerns being raised about travel in Washington. It is important to understand that none of my trips were paid for by lobbyists. I always ensure that all of my travel adheres to ethical standards. Disclosure rules exist to ensure accountability for these trips. All of my trips were for Senate business and were reported. Click here for a standard disclosure form for non taxpayer-funded travel.
Do you support reforms that will increase public confidence in Congress?
Absolutely! As Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I have spearheaded multiple hearings and investigations into government mismanagement of critical programs that cost taxpayers billions of dollars. I also believe that we must examine any loopholes in laws or rules that allow undue influence of special interest groups or encourage unethical behavior. That is why I am proposing that Senate Leadership create a bipartisan commission to provide recommendations on serious reforms and controls over lobbyists and their access to Congress.
In addition, I think we need to review the changes that were recently made in campaign finance laws. Some of these changes contributed to even greater abuses. I believe that rather than creating additional complex rules and regulations that only serve to encourage special interest groups to try to find ways around them, we should simply demand 100% transparency and disclosure on every single contribution, large or small, that is made to a candidate within 72 hours of a contribution being made. Such disclosures should be made within 12 hours of a contribution being made within one week of election day.
Are lobbyists a problem?
While I am troubled by the increasing number of lobbyists in Washington, I am not one who is going to suggest that all lobbyists are evil or unethical. As with any profession, there are a small number of individuals who abuse the system.
By and large, however, the lobbyists that I work with are outstanding individuals who are committed to their work. Lobbyists represent unions, teachers, health care professionals, the mentally ill, seniors, women, and children – people just like you and me.
My staff and I receive critically important information from lobbyists. And, in more cases than not, lobbyists are experts in their particular area and are hard-working and honest – again, people just like you and me: farmers, those suffering from chemical dependency, businessmen and women, and others.
What is an “earmark”?
An earmark is designated funding that has been directed to a certain region or congressional district or state for projects or other important programs that serve the public interest. Some people have called earmarks “pork barrel” politics.
Under the Constitution, however, Congress was granted the “power of the purse.” Through earmarks Congress has a particular say about exactly where federal dollars are spent. Members of Congress often work with their colleagues to see that key projects receive earmarks as bills work their way through the legislative process.
I agree with a number of my colleagues – including Senator John McCain – that we need to take a serious look at the earmark process. It may be that this practice is creating far greater problems than were ever imagined. I will work to reform the earmark process.
What specific reform proposals do you support?
To restore the public’s trust in government, I have coauthored the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005 (S. 2128) with Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT). This bill lays out a clear, tangible set of changes to ensure greater transparency in the system.
Specifically, this bill would:
- require faster reporting of lobbying expenditures and greater public access to reports filed by lobbyists and their employers;
- increase disclosure of lobbying activities, including so-called grass-roots lobbying;
-increase disclosure by lobbyists, lawmakers and congressional staff of travel arranged or financed by lobbyists or clients; and
- require members of Congress to notify the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate if their discussions with potential new employers pose any conflicts of interests.
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] To view a video of Senator Coleman speaking at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, 
