A bill to amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, to appropriately limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers.
The bill would amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, by adding a new subsection (h) that creates a comprehensive framework to limit and monitor donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers. It defines “donation” broadly (including money, in-kind contributions, or compensation for personal services) and sets strict restrictions on who may donate, who may solicit, and when donations can be accepted. It imposes a 2-year cooling-off period after a president leaves office, during which certain categories of donors are restricted from giving. It establishes an aggregate donation cap of $10,000 per donor during the presidency and for one year after, with automatic inflation indexing. It requires quarterly reporting of donations by “covered persons” (donors who give at least $200 in a quarter) and publication of these reports on the National Archives’ site. The bill also provides enforcement mechanisms with civil and criminal penalties, including heightened penalties for larger total donations, and authorizes Regulations to be issued by the Archivist to implement the new rules. Notably, the definition of “Presidential Library or Center” is broad, encompassing organizations affiliated with a sitting or former president or established to commemorate a president, including private foundations or centers created after a president’s first campaign.
Key Points
- 1Broad definition of donations: includes money, in-kind contributions, deposits, or compensation for personal services related to the Presidential Library or Center; volunteers’ services are excluded from the donation definition.
- 2Source restrictions: during relevant periods, donations are prohibited or restricted from individuals or entities such as non-501(c)(3) donors, registered lobbyists, registered agents of foreign principals, Federal contractors, foreign nationals, or those seeking/receiving a presidential pardon.
- 3Cooling-off period: a 2-year post-presidency window during which certain restricted donors cannot donate to a Presidential Library or Center.
- 4Aggregate donation cap and indexing: donors may not contribute more than $10,000 in the specified window (from election to one year after leaving office), with the cap adjusted for inflation at specified intervals.
- 5Reporting and transparency: “covered persons” donating at least $200 in a calendar quarter must be reported to the Archivist within 15 days after each quarter; reports include donation amount, date received, donor’s name/address/employer, and occupation if a person; the Archivist must publish these reports on the National Archives website within 30 days.