Lobbying
Federal regulations such as the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and those created by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 place limitations and reporting requirements on all tax-exempt organizations with regard to their engagement in activities that attempt to influence legislation (i.e., lobbying). Additionally, federal funding is strictly prohibited from being used for lobbying. This page overviews what that means for anyone involved with sponsored research at NC State.
Requirements
Before a federal grant, contract or cooperative agreement exceeding $100,000 can be awarded, the recipient must:
- Certify that no appropriated funds were or will be expended to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a member of Congress in connection with a specific award; and
- Disclose certain information if the recipient has used or intends to use non-appropriated funds for lobbying activities by an individual not regularly employed by the applicant. All disclosures about activities with non-appropriated funds must be updated quarterly. The language of this certification is to be included in all award documents at all tiers, and subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.
Policy
No appropriated funds will be expended for lobbying activities, and the use of non-appropriated funds for lobbying activities must be disclosed.
Procedures
- Each employee submitting a proposal for external funding must certify via the Project Information Navigation System (PINS) the following: “To the extent I am aware that any agent of the University has engaged in lobbying the federal government in securing the funding for which this application represents such efforts have been coordinated through or I will inform the NC State Office of Federal Affairs.” This and all certifications and representations are available for viewing: PINS Approval Certifications.
- State of North Carolina lobbying laws are addressed by the Office of General Counsel.
- Federal lobbying must be disclosed to the Office of Federal Affairs pursuant to the UNC System’s policy regarding disclosure of lobbying activities.