Congressional Travel - Privately Funded
Top Congressional Travelers, 2005-2007
Although House and Senate ethics rules limit the number of congressional trip days a private source can pay for, there's no limit on the number of sponsored trips Congress members can take during their term.
Though it may seem like the lawmakers listed below are really getting around, it's important to remember that these tallies also include staff members who may be traveling in place of the politician. Some travel forms list the purpose and itinerary of the trip specifically, while others fall well short of being comprehensive. Up to one relative, including spouse or child, may also accompany either the politician or the congressional employee, though the additional travelers aren't included in CRP's calculations of the most frequent travelers. If additional individuals want to come along for the ride, the sponsor cannot pay for their expenses.
| Rank | Member of Congress | Total Amount | Number of Trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich) | $94,391 | 76 |
| 2 | Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn) | $62,670 | 66 |
| 3 | Joe Barton (R-Texas) | $110,946 | 62 |
| 4 | Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga) | $113,959 | 61 |
| 5 | Larry Craig (R-Idaho) | $68,085 | 56 |
| 6 | Hillary Clinton (D-NY) | $87,549 | 50 |
| 7 | Don Young (R-Alaska) | $71,144 | 47 |
| 8 | John Lewis (D-Ga) | $29,455 | 44 |
| 9 | Bob Goodlatte (R-Va) | $62,637 | 43 |
| 9 | Bill Thomas (R-Calif) | $34,228 | 43 |
NOTE: Data was last obtained from the House Office of the Clerk and Senate Office of Public Records on Friday, May 16, 2008.
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.
