Understanding Lobbying
Lobbying, at its core, is the practice of communicating with government officials to influence specific legislation or policy outcomes. Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA), this includes direct contact with Members of Congress, congressional staff, or senior Executive Branch officials in connection with the formulation, modification, or adoption of federal legislation, rules, or programs.
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Contrary to popular perception, lobbying is not inherently negative—it is a recognized and constitutionally protected form of petitioning the government. What separates legitimate lobbying from unethical conduct is transparency: whether the entity discloses who it represents, how much it spends, and what issues it seeks to influence.
Lobbying Report
Understanding the Report
Under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), not every conversation with a policymaker counts as lobbying—but once certain thresholds are met, registration and quarterly reports are required. If an organization pays someone to spend more than a small portion of their time directly contacting Members of Congress, congressional staff, or senior federal officials to influence specific legislation or policy, that activity must be disclosed. The goal is simple: to let the public know who is trying to influence government decisions, what they’re asking for, and on whose behalf.
Misleading VSO Reports
Many Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) file vague and incomplete lobbying disclosures—often listing broad categories like “veteran healthcare and benefits” instead of the specific bills, sections, or executive actions they actually lobbied.
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According to official Senate guidance, every filer must “be specific” and identify the bill number, title, and section or the exact executive action addressed. Simply restating a general issue code does not meet reporting standards.
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One of the largest VSOs in Washington--and many others-- uses vague language, leaving veterans and the public in the dark about who is being influenced, on what issues, and why.
Combat Veterans of America intends to change that—by leading from the front, promoting full transparency, and setting a new benchmark for honesty and compliance in veterans’ advocacy.
