John Sarbanes

“ The Director of the Office of Government Ethics may exempt a covered contribution from the application of clause (i) if the Director determines the circumstances of the solicitation and making of the covered contribution do not present a risk of a conflict of interest and the exemption of the covered contribution would not affect adversely the integrity of the Government or the public's confidence in the integrity of the Government. ”

“ Definitions.—Section 109 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (19) as paragraphs (5) through (22) , respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: “ (2) ‘covered contribution’ means a payment, advance, forbearance, rendering, or deposit of money, or any thing of value— “ (A) (i) that— “ (I) is— “ (aa) made by or on behalf of a covered individual; or “ (bb) solicited in writing by or at the request of a covered individual ”