Bill Summary
The Public Service Spending Integrity Act aims to prevent government officials and employees, as well as their families, from using federal funds or engaging in contracts that would enrich themselves. This legislation recognizes the importance of maintaining the trust of the American people in their government and aims to create a clear barrier between public service and personal gain. It prohibits the use of federal funds for goods or services at businesses owned or controlled by covered individuals, unless necessary for their security. It also prohibits federal agencies from entering into contracts with businesses owned or controlled by covered individuals or family members. The bill defines "covered individuals" as the President, Vice President, heads of Executive departments, and individuals in designated Cabinet-level positions. "Family members" are defined as spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and domestic partners of covered individuals. Overall, this legislation aims to maintain the integrity of public service and prevent any conflicts of interest.
Possible Impacts
1. A government official cannot use federal funds to purchase goods or services from a business they or their family members own or control, unless it is necessary for their security. This could prevent conflicts of interest and prevent government officials from using their position for personal gain.
2. A federal agency cannot enter into a contract with a business owned or controlled by a government official or their family members. This could prevent the government from awarding contracts to businesses that have a personal connection to government officials.
3. The legislation defines specific relationships that qualify as "family members" for the purposes of this act, such as spouses, parents, and domestic partners. This could affect people who have family members in positions of power, as they may be limited in their ability to do business with the government.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1626 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1626
To prevent the enrichment of certain Government officers and employees
or their families through Federal funds or contracting, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 7, 2019
Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on
House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prevent the enrichment of certain Government officers and employees
or their families through Federal funds or contracting, 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; FINDINGS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Public Service
Spending Integrity Act''.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Americans' trust in government is essential to our
democracy.
(2) Allowing public service by an elected official to
seemingly converge with their own personal gain is corrosive to
Americans' faith in government.
(3) Members of Congress and the executive branch have
substantial power and discretion over the disbursement of
public funds, and with that comes the obligation to create a
barrier between public service and personal gain.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND CONTRACTING AT
BUSINESSES OWNED BY CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AND
EMPLOYEES.
(a) Limitation on Federal Funds.--
(1) President; vice president; cabinet.--Beginning in
fiscal year 2020 and in each fiscal year thereafter, no Federal
funds may be obligated or expended for purposes of procuring
goods or services at any business owned or controlled by a
covered individual or any family member of such an individual,
unless such obligation or expenditure of funds is necessary for
the security of a covered individual or family member.
(2) Members of congress.--Beginning in fiscal year 2020 and
in each fiscal year thereafter, no funds from a Members'
Representational Allowance of a Member of the House of
Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner
to the Congress) or a Senators' Official Personnel and Office
Expense Account may be obligated or expended for purposes of
procuring goods or services at any business owned or controlled
by the Member of Congress or any family member of such a
Member, unless such obligation or expenditure of funds is
necessary for the security of a Member or family member of a
Member.
(b) Prohibition on Contracts.--No federal agency may enter into a
contract with a business owned or controlled by a covered individual or
any family member of such an individual.
(c) Determination of Ownership.--For purposes of this section, a
business shall be deemed to be owned or controlled by a covered
individual or any family member of such an individual, or a Member of
Congress or a family member of such a Member, if the covered individual
or member of family or the Member of Congress or member of family (as
the case may be)--
(1) is a member of the board of directors or similar
governing body of the business; or
(2) directly or indirectly owns or controls 51 percent or
more of the voting shares of the business.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
means--
(A) the President;
(B) the Vice President;
(C) the head of any Executive department (as that
term is defined in section 101 of title 5, United
States Code); and
(D) any individual occupying a position designated
by the President as a Cabinet-level position.
(2) Family member.--The term ``family member'' means an
individual with any of the following relationships to a covered
individual or a Member of Congress:
(A) Spouse, and parents thereof.
(B) Sons and daughters, and spouses thereof.
(C) Parents, and spouses thereof.
(D) Brothers and sisters, and spouses thereof.
(E) Grandparents and grandchildren, and spouses
thereof.
(F) Domestic partner and parents thereof, including
domestic partners of any individual in paragraphs (2)
through (5).
(3) Federal agency.--The term ``federal agency'' has the
meaning given that term in section 102 of title 40, United
States Code.
(4) Member of congress.--The term ``Member of Congress''
has the meaning given that term in section 2106 of title 5,
United States Code, but does not include the Vice President.
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