{
  "id": "RS21117",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RS21117",
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      "id": 402107,
      "date": "2012-03-01",
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      "title": "Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies",
      "summary": "There is no inherent ethical problem with a Member\u2019s office assisting constituents and constituent organizations with the procedures and applications for federal grants. Although in most instances such assistance would involve the provision and distribution of grant information to constituents and constituent groups, it is possible that on occasion, if the office deems it appropriate, the office may contact a federal agency to express interest in and support of the grant application. \nIn conducting such assistance, three general areas of ethical considerations should be noted:\nIn prioritizing grant assistance requests, and deciding whether and at what level assistance is to be provided, Member offices should consider generally the overall \u201cpublic interest\u201d and the potential public benefits of the proposal or project. One factor that should not be considered is whether or not the constituent or the organization has supported the Member financially with campaign contributions, and no such \u201clinkage\u201d should be made either internally or overtly.\nIf it is decided that a proposal has particular merit, or would be particularly beneficial to the community, the office may contact an agency to express interest in the proposal, and may even advocate for the grant proposal. It should be remembered, however, that the administrative agency has the final decision on the matter, and that the awarding of grants is generally a competitive process in which the agency decision is to be made on the merits of the proposal and not on political considerations. It is considered an abuse of a Member\u2019s representational role to threaten agency officials, or to make promises to the agency, in an effort to gain administrative action.\nAfter official assistance is given to a constituent or a constituent group, the Member and the staff should not receive personally anything of value from the group or person as a \u201cthank you,\u201d \u201cin appreciation of,\u201d or otherwise as a payment for the official duties performed on its behalf.",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc811389/",
      "id": "RS21117_2002Jan23",
      "date": "2002-01-23",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Ethical Considerations in Assisting Constituents With Grant Requests Before Federal Agencies",
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}