18 U.S.C. § 442 — Government Publishing Office

(a) Definitions. This section borrows several terms — "diversified," "employee benefit plan," "holdings," "mutual fund," and "unit investment trust" — from a federal ethics regulation, 5 C.F.R. § 2640.102 (or whatever regulation replaces it). It also defines "printing-related interest" as any direct or indirect interest in: (A) publishing any newspaper or periodical; (B) any kind of printing, binding, engraving, or lithographing; or (C) any contract to supply paper or other material connected with public printing, binding, lithographing, or engraving. (b) Offense. (1) In general. Except as allowed by paragraph (2), the Director of the Government Publishing Office, the Deputy Director, and any of their assistants (as the Director determines) may not have any printing-related interest while they hold that office. (2) Exception for mutual funds, unit investment trusts, employee benefit plans, and retirement plans. It's not a violation for someone covered by paragraph (1) to hold an interest in a diversified mutual fund, diversified unit investment trust, employee benefit plan, a Thrift Savings Plan investment fund, or a state or local government pension plan — even if that fund, trust, or plan happens to hold some printing-related interests — as long as the fund, trust, or plan doesn't specifically concentrate its holdings in printing-related interests. (3) Authority of supervising ethics office. The ethics office that supervises the Government Publishing Office under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 can issue rules and regulations to implement this subsection. (c) Penalty. Anyone who violates subsection (b)(1) can be fined under this title, imprisoned for up to one year, or both.