HR 4461
To amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, to appropriately limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers.
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers by establishing stricter rules around who can donate and how much they can give. It prohibits donations from certain individuals, such as lobbyists, foreign nationals, and those seeking pardons, during the time a former president is in office and for two years afterward. The bill also sets a donation limit of $10,000 during a one-year period following a president’s election and requires detailed reporting of all donations made to these libraries and centers.
Key provisions
- Prohibits donations from registered lobbyists, foreign nationals, and those seeking pardons from Presidential Libraries and Centers.
- Establishes a $10,000 aggregate donation limit during a one-year period following a president’s election.
- Requires Presidential Libraries and Centers to report all donations to the Archivist.
- Imposes a two-year cooling-off period after a president leaves office during which donations from certain individuals are prohibited.
- Defines key terms related to donations and Presidential Libraries/Centers, including ‘donation,’ ‘Federal contractor,’ and ‘501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.’
- Addresses the conversion of donations to personal use.
- Includes provisions to prevent the use of another person’s name to make a donation.
- Provides for increased penalties for larger donations exceeding $50,000 annually.
Who is affected
- Presidential Libraries and Centers
- Individuals and organizations making donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4461
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, to appropriately limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers.
Section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
In this subsection—
the term donation—
includes—
the payment by any person of compensation or the provision of anything of value for the personal services of another person, for any purpose, which are rendered to the Presidential Library or Center without charging the Presidential Library or Center; and
does not include the value of services provided without compensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of the Presidential Library or Center;
the term Federal contractor has the meaning given that term under section 115.1 of title 11, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto;
the term foreign national has the meaning given that term under section 319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971;
the term 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization means an organization which is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
the term Presidential Library or Center means an organization established to raise funds to create, maintain, expand, or conduct activities at—
a Presidential archival depository;
any facility relating to a Presidential archival depository; or
the term registered lobbyist means a lobbyist, as defined in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602), that is registered or required to register under section 4(a) of that Act (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)).
It shall be unlawful for a Presidential Library or Center, an officer or employee thereof, or the Archivist to solicit, accept, receive, or agree to accept or receive in the future a donation from a person if, on the date on which the donation is solicited, accepted, received, or agreed to be accepted or received in the future—
the individual for whom the Presidential Library or Center is or will be established is serving in or has been elected to the office of President; and
the person from whom the donation is solicited, accepted, received, or agreed to be accepted or received in the future—
is—
a registered agent of a foreign principal;
a Federal contractor;
a foreign national; or
seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
It shall be unlawful for a person to directly or indirectly make a donation, or make an express or implied promise to make a donation, directly or indirectly, to a Presidential Library or Center if, on the date on which the donation or promise is made—
the individual for whom the Presidential Library or Center is or will be established is serving in or has been elected to the office of President; and
the person making the donation or promise—
a registered agent of a foreign principal;
a Federal contractor;
a foreign national; or
seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
During the 2-year period following the date on which the individual for whom a Presidential Library or Center is established ceases to serve in the office of the President, it shall be unlawful for the Presidential Library or Center, an officer or employee thereof, or the Archivist to solicit, accept, receive, or agree to accept or receive in the future a donation from a person who, on the date on which the donation is solicited, accepted, received, or agreed to be accepted or received in the future—
is a registered lobbyist;
is a registered agent of a foreign principal;
is a Federal contractor;
is a foreign national; or
is seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
During the 2-year period following the date on which the individual for whom a Presidential Library or Center is established ceases to serve in the office of the President, it shall be unlawful for a person to directly or indirectly make a donation, or make an express or implied promise to make a donation, to a Presidential Library or Center if, on the date on which the donation or promise is made, the person making the donation or promise—
is a registered lobbyist;
is a registered agent of a foreign principal;
is a Federal contractor;
is a foreign national; or
is seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
It shall be unlawful for any person, at any time, to convert a donation to a Presidential Library or Center to the personal use of any person, which shall include a circumstance in which any part of the donation is used to fulfill a commitment, obligation, or expense of a person that would exist irrespective of the responsibilities of the Presidential Library or Center.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make donations to a Presidential Library or Center the value of which, in the aggregate, exceeds $10,000 during the period—
ending on the date that is 1 year after the date on which such individual ceases serving in the office of President.
At the beginning of the first year during which presidential and vice-presidential electors are chosen after the date of enactment of this subsection, and the beginning of each such year thereafter, the amount described in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the cumulative percent difference determined under section 315(c)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(A)) since the most recent prior year during which such electors were chosen.
In this paragraph—
Not later than 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter occurring during the covered period with respect to an individual who serves as President, a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual shall file with the Archivist a report disclosing any donation during the calendar quarter made by a covered person.
A report filed under subparagraph (B) for a calendar quarter shall contain, for each donation of money or anything of value made to the Presidential Library or Center by a covered person during the quarter—
the amount or value of the donation;
the date the donation is received;
the name, address, and employer of the individual making the donation; and
if the source of the donation is an individual, the occupation of the individual.
During the covered period with respect to an individual who serves as President, it shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly—
make a donation to a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual in the name of another person;
permit the name of that person to be used to effect a donation by another person to a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual;
accept a donation to a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual made by one person in the name of another person; or
direct, help, or assist any person in making a contribution in the name of another person.
Not later than 30 days after the date on which each report is filed under subparagraph (B), the Archivist shall publish the complete report on the website of the National Archives and Records Administration, which shall be available without a fee or other access charge, and in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable format.
The Attorney General may bring a civil or criminal action, and the attorney general of any State may bring a civil action, seeking relief for a violation of this subsection in an appropriate district court of the United States.
Any person who violates this subsection shall be subject to—
a civil penalty that does not exceed the greater of $20,000 or the amount equal to the aggregate value of the donations involved in such violation; and
an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this section shall be—
subject to an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
Any person who violates this subsection, if the violation of this subsection involves the soliciting, accepting, making, receiving, agreeing to accept or receive, promising to make, conversion, effecting, or reporting of 1 or more donations during a calendar year with an aggregate value of more than $50,000, shall be subject to—
a civil penalty that does not exceed the greater of $100,000 or the amount equal to the aggregate value of the donations involved in such violation; and
an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this subsection, if the violation of this subsection involves the soliciting, accepting, making, receiving, agreeing to accept or receive, promising to make, conversion, effecting, or reporting of 1 or more donations during a calendar year with an aggregate value of more than $50,000, shall be—
subject to an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
A court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, upon a proper showing that the person involved has committed, or is about to commit a violation of this section.
A civil action under this subsection may not be commenced later than 10 years after the cause of action accrues.
No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense under this subsection, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within 10 years after such offense shall have been committed.
At the beginning of the first year during which presidential and vice-presidential electors are chosen after the date of enactment of this subsection, and the beginning of each such year thereafter, the amounts described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) shall be increased by the cumulative percent difference determined under section 315(c)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(A)) since the most recent prior year during which such electors were chosen.
The Archivist shall promulgate regulations, which shall be published in the Federal Register, for the purpose of carrying out this subsection.