Bill Summary
This legislation, also known as the "Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2019", amends the United States Code to require that information on contributors to Presidential library fundraising organizations be made publicly available. This information must be submitted in an electronic format every quarter and include the amount and source of each contribution, as well as the occupation and address of individual contributors. The purpose of this requirement is to increase transparency and prevent false information or contributions from being made. The Archivist is responsible for publishing this information on the National Archives and Records Administration website within 30 days of each quarterly filing. Those who violate this requirement may face penalties under the Federal Election Campaign Act. This Act applies to all Presidential library fundraising organizations, regardless of when they were established, but only applies to contributions made after the date of its enactment. No additional funds are authorized for the implementation of this Act, and its budgetary effects are determined by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Possible Impacts
1. Transparency in political fundraising: This legislation requires Presidential library fundraising organizations to report the names and contribution amounts of donors who give $200 or more to the organization. This information will be publicly available on the National Archives and Records Administration website. This increased transparency may affect people by making them more aware of who is financially supporting political candidates and potentially influencing their decisions.
2. Accountability for false information: The legislation also prohibits individuals and organizations from knowingly submitting false information or omitting material information in their contributions. If found guilty, they may face penalties and be subject to the same laws as violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. This may affect people by holding them accountable for their actions and promoting more honest and accurate reporting.
3. Limiting contributions made in someone else's name: The legislation makes it illegal for someone to make a contribution in the name of another person, or for an organization to knowingly accept such a contribution. This may affect people by preventing individuals or groups from trying to hide their donations or influence by using someone else's name.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1063 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1063
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 12, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 44, United States Code, to require information on
contributors to Presidential library fundraising organizations, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Library Donation Reform
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES.
(a) In General.--Section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(h) Presidential Library Fundraising Organization Reporting
Requirement.--
``(1) Reporting requirement.--Not later than 15 days after
the end of a calendar quarter and until the end of the
requirement period described in paragraph (2), each
Presidential library fundraising organization shall submit to
the Archivist information for that quarter in an electronic
searchable and sortable format with respect to every
contributor who gave the organization a contribution or
contributions (whether monetary or in-kind) totaling $200 or
more for the quarterly period.
``(2) Duration of reporting requirement.--The requirement
to submit information under paragraph (1) shall continue until
the later of the following occurs:
``(A) The Archivist has accepted, taken title to,
or entered into an agreement to use any land or
facility for the Presidential archival depository for
the President for whom the Presidential library
fundraising organization was established.
``(B) The President whose archives are contained in
the deposit no longer holds the Office of President.
``(3) Information required to be published.--The Archivist
shall publish on the website of the National Archives and
Records Administration, within 30 days after each quarterly
filing, any information that is submitted under paragraph (1),
without a fee or other access charge in a downloadable
database.
``(4) Submission of false material information
prohibited.--
``(A) Individual.--
``(i) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful
for any person who makes a contribution
described in paragraph (1) to knowingly and
willfully submit false material information or
omit material information with respect to the
contribution to an organization described in
such paragraph.
``(ii) Penalty.--The penalties described in
section 1001 of title 18, United States Code,
shall apply with respect to a violation of
clause (i) in the same manner as a violation
described in such section.
``(B) Organization.--
``(i) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful
for any Presidential library fundraising
organization to knowingly and willfully submit
false material information or omit material
information under paragraph (1).
``(ii) Penalty.--The penalties described in
section 1001 of title 18, United States Code,
shall apply with respect to a violation of
clause (i) in the same manner as a violation
described in such section.
``(5) Prohibition on contribution.--
``(A) In general.--It shall be unlawful for a
person to knowingly and willfully--
``(i) make a contribution described in
paragraph (1) in the name of another person;
``(ii) permit his or her name to be used to
effect a contribution described in paragraph
(1); or
``(iii) accept a contribution described in
paragraph (1) that is made by one person in the
name of another person.
``(B) Penalty.--The penalties set forth in section
309(d) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 437g(d)) shall apply to a violation of
subparagraph (A) in the same manner as if such
violation were a violation of section 316(b)(3) of such
Act (2 U.S.C. 441b(b)(3)).
``(6) Regulations required.--The Archivist shall promulgate
regulations for the purpose of carrying out this subsection.
``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Information.--The term `information' means
the following:
``(i) The amount or value of each
contribution made by a contributor referred to
in paragraph (1) in the quarter covered by the
submission.
``(ii) The source of each such
contribution, and the address of the entity or
individual that is the source of the
contribution.
``(iii) If the source of such a
contribution is an individual, the occupation
of the individual.
``(iv) The date of each such contribution.
``(B) Presidential library fundraising
organization.--The term `Presidential library
fundraising organization' means an organization that is
established for the purpose of raising funds for
creating, maintaining, expanding, or conducting
activities at--
``(i) a Presidential archival depository;
or
``(ii) any facilities relating to a
Presidential archival depository.''.
(b) Applicability.--Section 2112(h) of title 44, United States Code
(as added by subsection (a))--
(1) shall apply to an organization established for the
purpose of raising funds for creating, maintaining, expanding,
or conducting activities at a Presidential archival depository
or any facilities relating to a Presidential archival
depository before, on, or after the date of the enactment of
this Act; and
(2) shall only apply with respect to contributions (whether
monetary or in-kind) made after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of
this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall
be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.
SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives February 11, 2019.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.