No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4175
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-03T08:05:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to clarify and strengthen federal criminal law regarding illegal gratuities involving organizations, states, localities, or tribes that receive federal funds.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is named the "No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025."
- Amendments to 18 U.S.C. § 666:
- Redesignates existing subsections (b) through (d) as (c) through (e).
- Updates subsection (a) to reference the new subsection (c) and raises the maximum prison term from 10 years to 15 years.
- Adds a new subsection (b) that creates a specific offense for giving, offering, or accepting gratuities of $1,000 or more in connection with official acts tied to transactions worth $5,000 or more. The penalty for this offense is a fine, up to 2 years in prison, or both.
- Adjusts subsection (c) to apply to both the original offense in (a) and the new gratuity offense in (b).
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill separates the treatment of gratuities (payments made "for or because of" an official act) from other corruption offenses under section 666. It introduces a distinct, lower-penalty provision for gratuities while increasing the maximum sentence for the primary offense from 10 to 15 years. It also updates cross-references to accommodate the new structure.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Strengthens enforcement tools for the Department of Justice when investigating corruption in federally funded programs at state, local, tribal, and organizational levels.
- Citizens and Organizations: Expands potential criminal liability for individuals or entities offering or receiving gratuities in dealings with agents of federally funded entities.
- International Relations: No direct effects noted in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal prosecutors and investigators.
- Agents and employees of organizations, state governments, local governments, and Indian tribal governments that receive federal funds.
- Private individuals, businesses, or entities that interact with such agents in transactions involving $5,000 or more.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill expands federal criminal jurisdiction over gratuity-related conduct in programs receiving federal assistance, potentially increasing the number of cases prosecuted under this statute. It raises penalties for the core offense while creating a separate, less severe category for gratuities, which may affect how courts distinguish between different forms of improper payments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-26: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Gratuities for Governing Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-26 — PDF (3 pages)