The platinum perks that Congressmen and their staffers get are expenses-paid travels, usually to luxury destinations in the United States.
Special interest groups pay for travel.
Skift has analysed congressional records up to July and found that more than 1,700 federal lawmakers have taken these trips so far this year.
U.S. House rules and Senate regulations allow for these journeys, as long the itinerary is pre-approved, disclosed properly, and is not funded by a foreign agent or registered lobbyist. Most of them are sponsored either by non-profit or business organizations. They aim to inform the official on a certain issue or industry.
These trips, say some government watchdogs, are usually little more than “junkets”, especially as many of them occur in high-end locations and involve luxury hotels.
