BLAST Act

This bill aims to permanently prohibit former Members and elected officers of Congress from engaging in lobbying activities directed at Congress. It amends title 18 of the United States Code to prevent these individuals from registering as a lobbyist or knowingly making any communication to influence Members, officers, or employees of Congress on behalf of another person. The legislation also revises the definition of a "lobbyist" in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to explicitly include former Members of Congress who are compensated for lobbying contacts or activities. This ensures that any attempt by former legislators to influence their former colleagues falls under the new prohibition. These new restrictions will apply to any individual who leaves their congressional office on or after the date of the bill's enactment.