February 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 26 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H1496-H1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DONATION REFORM ACT OF 2019

  Ms. HILL of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1063) to amend title 44, United States Code, to 
require information on contributors to Presidential library fundraising 
organizations, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1063

       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.

[[Page H1497]]

  


     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Hill) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Meadows) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HILL of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HILL of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cummings and Representative Meadows for 
sponsoring this legislation.
  Former Representative  John Duncan from Tennessee first sponsored a 
bill to improve Presidential libraries 19 years ago. A bill identical 
to the one before us passed the House in the last Congress with 
bipartisan support. I hope we now can finally get this important reform 
enacted.
  The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act would make the process 
for building Presidential libraries more transparent. Presidential 
libraries have become increasingly expensive as they have evolved into 
multipurpose centers.
  The costs for building a Presidential library must come from private 
funding, and modern libraries cost millions--in some cases, hundreds of 
millions--of dollars to build.
  The George W. Bush Presidential Center, for example, cost an 
estimated $250 million to build, and President Bush raised 
approximately $500 million for the building and an endowment for his 
library, museum, and institute.
  Although President Obama has raised hundreds of millions of dollars 
for his Presidential library, he has voluntarily disclosed the names of 
those who have donated $200 or more.
  We should not, however, rely on such voluntary disclosures. Under 
current law, there is no requirement to disclose the identities of 
those who donate to a Presidential library, and a President, while 
still in office, is able to raise an unlimited amount from private 
donations.
  There is no limitation on who can donate to a sitting President for a 
Presidential library, or how much they can donate, and their identities 
remain secret.
  This bill would require organizations that raise money to build 
Presidential libraries to disclose the identity of any individual who 
donates more than $200. The National Archives and Records 
Administration would then be required to post the donation information 
online.
  The bill would also create criminal penalties for individuals who 
report false information on donations and for fundraising organizations 
that omit donation information.
  A group of 15 good government organizations, including Citizens for 
Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the Sunlight Foundation, 
sent a letter last Congress urging the House to support this bill.
  Here is what they wrote: ``Under the current opaque system, 
Presidents raise funds privately to establish their Presidential 
libraries. These efforts, which often begin long before they leave 
office, are unregulated and undisclosed, creating opportunities for, 
and/or the appearance of, influence peddling. Improved transparency 
would help reduce the appearance of impropriety and help deter 
inappropriate behavior.''
  This bill had bipartisan support and passed the House last Congress 
without opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of this body to support this bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1063. I appreciate the 
gentlewoman's remarks as it relates to this particular bill. The 
bipartisan Presidential Library Donation Reform Act, which was 
introduced by the gentleman from Maryland, my good friend, Mr. 
Cummings, is certainly one worthy of our support, Mr. Speaker.
  Under current law, Presidents can fundraise for their Presidential 
libraries through private, unlimited donations while they are still in 
office. There are no current requirements for any Presidential library 
fundraising organization to disclose the source or size of the donation 
it receives. Donations can be from individuals, companies, 
associations, and foreign governments, with no transparency.
  Presidential libraries have become more expensive throughout the 
years. President Clinton's library cost $165 million. President Bush's 
cost $250 million. President Obama's is projected to cost more than 
$500 million.
  This bill requires Presidential library fundraising organizations to 
disclose to the National Archives information about contributors who 
have donated $200 or more in any quarter. The National Archives would 
then be tasked with making the data available on its website in a 
downloadable format.
  H.R. 1063 also sunsets the disclosure requirement to when the 
management of the actual library is transferred to the National 
Archives.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan piece of legislation. It is a pro-
transparency bill that has already passed the House, as my colleague 
mentioned, not once but three different times, with overwhelming 
support under both Democratic and Republican majorities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HILL of California. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1063, as 
amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I introduced the Presidential Library 
Donation Reform Act of 2019 to make the process of raising money to 
build presidential libraries more transparent. I thank Representative 
Mark Meadows for joining me in sponsoring this legislation.
  Right now, a president--while still in office--can raise an unlimited 
amount of money for a presidential library from private donations, and 
the identities of all the donors can remain secret. It is time to enact 
this bipartisan legislation to require the disclosure of donor 
information.
  Presidential libraries are built using private funds accepted through 
a private, non-profit organization. The costs of building modern 
presidential libraries can be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 
The George W. Bush Presidential Center, for example, cost an estimated 
$250 million to build, and President Bush raised several hundred 
million dollars to build the facility.
  President Obama has also raised hundreds of millions of dollars for 
his presidential library. President Obama has voluntarily disclosed the 
names of donors who have given $200 or more. While I applaud President 
Obama's efforts at transparency, we cannot rely on every president to 
voluntarily disclose donor information.
  This bipartisan legislation would require the disclosure of 
information about every donor who gives $200 or more for a presidential 
library and establish penalties for false reporting and non-compliance. 
This bill would make these vital changes to the law to deter 
inappropriate behavior.
  Former Republican Representative John Duncan of Tennessee first 
sponsored a bill to improve the process for building presidential 
libraries 19 years ago. Representative Duncan also sponsored the same 
legislation we are considering today with me last Congress. The bill 
had bipartisan support and passed the House last Congress without 
opposition. It is past time for us to enact this bipartisan reform and 
shed light on an otherwise opaque system.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hill) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1063, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

[[Page H1498]]

  

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