Lobbying

All subrecipients must comply with the provisions of the government-wide Common Rule on Restrictions on Lobbying, as appropriate. 

The following lobbying cost prohibitions are applicable to all subrecipients:

• Attempting to influence the outcome of any federal, state, or local election, referendum, initiative, or similar procedure, through in-kind or cash contributions, endorsements, publicity, or similar activity.
• Establishing, administering, contributing to, or paying for the expenses of a political party, campaign, political action committee, or other organization established for the purpose of influencing the outcome of elections.
• Attempting to influence: (a) the introduction of federal or state legislation; or (b) the enactment or modification of any pending federal or state legislation through communication with any member or employee of the congress or state legislature (including efforts to influence state or local officials to engage in similar lobbying activity), or with any government official or employee in connection with a decision to sign or veto any legislation.
• Publicity or propaganda purposes designed to support or defeat legislation pending before legislative bodies.
• Paying, directly or indirectly, for any personal service, advertisement, telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or other device, intended or designed to influence in any manner a member of congress or a state legislature, to favor or oppose, by vote or otherwise, any legislation or appropriation by either congress or a state legislature, whether before or after the introduction of any bill or resolution proposing such legislation or appropriation.
• Engaging in legislative liaison activities, including attendance at legislative sessions or committee hearings, gathering information regarding legislation, and analyzing the effect of legislation, when such activities are carried out in support of or in knowing preparation for an effort to engage in unallowable lobbying.
• Paying a publicity expert.
• The Anti-Lobbying Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1913, recently was amended to expand significantly the restriction on use of appropriated funding for lobbying. This expansion also makes the anti-lobbying restrictions enforceable via large civil penalties, with civil fines between $10,000 and $100,000 per each individual occurrence of lobbying activity. These restrictions are in addition to the anti-lobbying and lobbying disclosure restrictions imposed by 31 U.S. C. § 1352.

See  28 C.F.R. Part 69 for DOJ grantees. However, in the interest of full disclosure, all subrecipients understand that no federally appropriated funding made available under this grant program may be used, either directly or indirectly, to support the enactment, repeal, modification, or adoption of any law, regulation, or policy, at any level of government, without the express approval of CVAD. Any violation of this prohibition is subject to a minimum $10,000 fine for each occurrence.