By Suzanne Perry

Washington

The national-service bill passed by the Senate yesterday relaxed restrictions on lobbying and other political activities that were adopted by the House of Representatives, easing the concerns of nonprofit advocacy groups.

The Senate removed language in the House version of the bill — the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388 — that would have barred groups that conduct various activities, including political or legislative advocacy, from receiving national-service money.

The restriction would also have applied to groups that are “co-located on the same premises” as such organizations.

In addition, the Senate changed language that would have banned “a participant in an approved national-service position” from attempting to influence legislation, organizing protests or petitions, or conducting voter-registration drives. The Senate bill does not refer to “participants,” but instead applies the restrictions to national-service “positions.”

Critics said the House language was so broad it would have barred individuals and organizations from advocacy activities even if using private money or outside of a national-service context.

The House is expected to vote on the Senate version of the national-service bill, the Serve America Act, on Monday under a procedure that does not allow amendments.

Lee Mason, director of nonprofit speech rights for OMB Watch, a government-watchdog group, said he was still “combing through” the new language, but “at the moment we’re very pleased.”

Larry Ottinger, president of the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, said the original language was reminiscent of earlier attempts by lawmakers to restrict nonprofit groups that receive federal funds from doing advocacy work, including the “Istook amendment” of the mid-1990s.

He said it was heartening that this time around, an amendment drawn up to mirror the House language did not even make it to the Senate floor.