WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to put a stop to the culture of corruption on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) voted for a sweeping and historic ethics reform bill that will help make government more transparent and make lawmakers more accountable. The Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007, which passed Thursday night by a vote of 96-2, offers strong new ethics and lobbying reform laws. The bill will ban gifts and travel paid for by lobbyists, place stricter limits on lobbying activities, and address many of the abuses that led to the convictions of Jack Abramoff, former Representative Randall Duke Cunningham, and former Representative Bob Ney. Passing this ethics reform bill is a positive step that will lead to significant change, said Reed, who voted for several amendments to strengthen the bill. It will also send a signal to the average person that the Senate wants to put an end to the cynical view that our government is not working for them and is focused on their priorities, such as health care costs, education, energy, and a host of other issues that were put on the back burner in the past. I applaud Majority Leader Harry Reid for sheparding the passage of this comprehensive ethics reform package and seeking to change the dynamic in Washington, said Reed. Passing this bill is a good first step, but we need to remain vigilant.