Key Findings:

• The Center for Public Integrity’s investigation into congressional travel found many members of Congress embark on trips financed by private sponsors — many of which are corporations, trade associations, or nonprofit groups seeking to gain legislative access.

• During a five-and-a-half year period ending in 2005, the study revealed almost $50 million spent on at least 23,000 trips for members of Congress and their aides. Ethics rules required that these trips be educational or investigative in their purpose, but the report indentified many to vacation destinations — at least 200 to Paris, 150 to Hawaii, and 140 to Italy.