This bill sets rules for donations tied to certain public places and events connected to the President or Vice President. It covers work or events on the grounds of the White House, Number One Observatory Circle (the Naval Observatory), or other public property intended for the use of the sitting President or Vice President. It also covers federal monuments or structures that name or honor a living current or former President, Vice President, or certain Presidential appointees.
The bill defines "donation" broadly to include gifts, services, bequests, or anything of value given directly or indirectly. Before a donation for a covered project can be accepted or used, the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) must make a written determination, with the concurrence of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), that the donation meets the bill's rules. That determination must be submitted to two congressional committees and published in the Federal Register.
The bill bars donations when the ultimate source is a person who, at the time of donation or after the President took office, is involved in litigation with the Federal Government; subject to a federal investigation or enforcement action; seeking or having a contract or grant with the Federal Government; engaged in lobbying the executive branch; seeking or having sought a pardon; or seeking appointment to a federal position. Donations from foreign governments require congressional approval.
The bill also bans solicitation of donations by employees of the Executive Office of the President, including the President and Vice President, or by their spouses or children. Donor names or logos may not be displayed at the covered locations as recognition. Donors must not convert donations to private use, and leftover funds cannot be spent in ways that directly and predictably benefit the President, Vice President, their spouses or children, or certain executive employees.
To increase transparency, donors must disclose meetings or communications with the President, Vice President, their family members, or agents that occur from one year before to one year after the donation. The NPS must publish quarterly reports in the Federal Register listing donations and related information. The bill makes straw donations and anonymous donations unlawful and requires attestation when a donor is affiliated with a person barred from donating.
For enforcement, OGE must publish regulations within 180 days and may direct return of improper donations. The bill allows judicial review of OGE determinations, lets state attorneys general and the U.S. Attorney General bring civil or criminal actions, and sets civil fines and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may be up to the greater of $20,000 or the value of the donations (or higher amounts for aggregate yearly violations over $50,000). Criminal fines and imprisonment can apply: up to 1 year (or up to 5 years for larger violations over $50,000), plus disgorgement of benefits. The bill also allows injunctions and sets a 10-year statute of limitations for civil and criminal actions. The bill includes a severability clause.
No publicly available information on the bill's estimated budgetary costs or fiscal effects. The bill does require OGE to issue regulations within 180 days and requires quarterly reporting by NPS, which may involve administrative work, but no cost estimates are provided in the text.
The bill states its purpose is "to prevent corruption by appropriately limiting donations" for certain presidential and vice presidential properties, events, and monuments. Supporters, based on the bill text, argue the measures add safeguards, transparency, and limits to keep donations from creating conflicts of interest or the appearance of improper influence.
No publicly available information on organized opposition or specific arguments against the bill in the provided text.