Retention of and Public Access to Reports

The House Clerk retains the reports of House Members and employees for six years and the reports of unsuccessful candidates for one year.53  The Clerk makes all forms on file available for inspection by the public within thirty days of receipt.54  In addition, pursuant to the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, the Clerk must make the reports of all Members filed after June 1, 2008 available on a public, searchable website within 45 days of their filing.55

Anyone wishing to review a report on file with the Clerk must provide his or her name, occupation, and address; the name of any other person or entity on whose behalf the information is sought; and a statement that he or she is aware of the prohibitions on use of the information.56  It is unlawful to use the information contained in Financial Disclosure Statements for any commercial purpose other than new reporting, any unlawful purpose, to establish a filer’s credit rating, or for charitable, political, or other solicitations.57
 

53 5 U.S.C. app. 4 § 105(d).

54 Id. § 105(b)(1). 

55 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110-81, § 304, 121 Stat. 735, 752-53 (Sept. 14, 2007).

56 Id. § 105(b)(2). 

57 Id. § 105(c)(1), (2).