Bill Summary
The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2024 is a bill that aims to amend the United States Code to require all organizations that raise funds for Presidential libraries to report information on all contributors who donate $200 or more. This information must be submitted to the Archivist in an electronic, searchable and sortable format and will be published on the National Archives and Records Administration website. The bill also includes penalties for knowingly submitting false information or accepting contributions in the name of another person. The Archivist is also required to promulgate regulations for the purpose of carrying out this requirement. This bill applies to all organizations established for the purpose of raising funds for Presidential libraries, both before and after the enactment of the bill, and only applies to contributions made after the enactment of the bill. No additional funds are authorized for carrying out these requirements.
Possible Impacts
1. Limiting the amount of money an individual can contribute to a Presidential library fundraising organization to $200 per quarterly period, which could hinder the ability of wealthy individuals to influence political decisions through large donations.
2. Requiring the disclosure of the source of contributions to a Presidential library fundraising organization, which could hold accountable those who may be attempting to secretly influence government decisions.
3. Prohibiting individuals from making contributions in the name of another person, which could prevent individuals from using fake names to hide their true identity and political affiliations.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9491 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9491
To amend title 44, United States Code, to require information on
contributors to Presidential library fundraising organizations, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 6, 2024
Mr. Steube (for himself and Mr. Moskowitz) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Accountability
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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 2024''.
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.
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