(a) A VISTA may not knowingly solicit or discourage the participation in any political activity of any individual who has an application for any compensation, grant, contract, ruling, license, permit, or certificate pending before AmeriCorps or the VISTA program.

(b) A VISTA may not knowingly solicit or discourage the participation in any political activity of any individual who is the subject of, or a participant in, an ongoing audit, investigation, or enforcement action being carried out by or through AmeriCorps or the VISTA program.