S. 4524 – BLAST Act | Legislate.dev

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Updated May 19, 2026 at 3:12 AM UTC

The BLAST Act (Banning Lobbying And Safeguarding Trust Act) would make it illegal for anyone who has served as a Senator, Representative, or elected officer of either chamber to lobby Congress after they leave office. The ban covers both registering as a lobbyist and any direct communication intended to influence members, officers, or staff of Congress on behalf of a client. It applies to former officials who leave office on or after the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

Prohibits former Senators, House members, and elected officers from registering as lobbyists or making lobbying communications to Congress after leaving office.
Expands the definition of “lobbyist” to explicitly include former members of Congress who are paid to make lobbying contacts or perform lobbying services for a client.
Makes technical and conforming changes to the criminal provisions in Title 18 to reflect the new ban and updated terminology.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 13, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 13, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

May 13, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 13, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4524

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 13, 2026

Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit former Members and elected officers of Congress from lobbying Congress at any time after leaving office.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Banning Lobbying And Safeguarding Trust Act or the BLAST Act.

2.

Prohibiting former Members and officers of Congress from lobbying Congress

(a)

Prohibition

Section 207(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

(1)

Members and elected officers of Congress

Any person who is a Senator, a Member of the House of Representatives, or an elected officer of the Senate or the House of Representatives and who, after that person leaves office—

(A)

registers as a lobbyist under section 4 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603), or

(B)

knowingly makes, with the intent to influence, any communication to or appearance before any Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress or any employee of any other legislative office of Congress, on behalf of any other person (except the United States) in connection with any matter on which the former Senator, Member, or elected official seeks action by a Member, officer, or employee of either House of Congress, in his or her official capacity,

shall be punished as provided in section 216.

.

(b)

Lobbyist definition

Section 3(10) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(10)) is amended—

(1)

by striking lobbyist means any and inserting “ ‘lobbyist’—

(A)

means any

;

(2)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

includes any former Member of Congress who is employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation—

(i)

for services that include making 1 or more lobbying contacts; or

(ii)

to engage in lobbying activities that do not include making lobbying contacts.

.

(c)

Technical and conforming amendments

Section 207(e)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in the heading, by striking Officers and staff and inserting Staff;

(2)

by striking an elected officer of the Senate, or;

(3)

by striking office or; and

(4)

by striking former elected officer or.

(d)

Applicability

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to an individual who leaves office on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.