Stop Ballroom Bribery Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3191
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T07:19:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Stop Ballroom Bribery Act" (S. 3191) aims to prevent corruption and undue influence by imposing strict limits on private donations for specific public properties, buildings, events, or monuments connected to the President, Vice President, or their families. It targets potential conflicts of interest, such as donations from individuals or entities seeking government favors, to protect the integrity of executive branch operations.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Covered project: Includes maintenance, construction, or improvements to public properties like the White House grounds, the Vice President's residence (Number One Observatory Circle), or other sites dedicated to the sitting President/Vice President or their immediate family. It also covers events on these grounds and federal monuments honoring living current or former Presidents, Vice Presidents, or presidential appointees.
- Donation: Any gift, bequest, or service of value, whether direct to the government or indirect through others.
- Other terms include foreign government (as defined in federal ethics law), lobbying activities (efforts to influence government officials, per the Lobbying Disclosure Act), and nonprofit organization (tax-exempt groups under IRS rules).
- Restrictions on Accepting Donations:
- Donations can only be accepted if they comply with existing federal gift laws and receive written approval from the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) and the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Approvals must be reported to congressional committees and published in the Federal Register (the official government journal for public notices).
- Prohibited donors include those involved in lawsuits against the government, under federal investigation, seeking contracts/grants, engaged in executive branch lobbying, seeking pardons or appointments, or with ongoing unspent federal grants.
- Donations cannot be conditioned on receiving government benefits, coerced, or appear to influence official duties.
- The President, Vice President, their spouses/children, or Executive Office staff cannot solicit donations.
- Foreign government donations require explicit Congressional approval.
- Post-Donation Rules:
- Donors cannot be recognized (e.g., no plaques or logos) on the property.
- Donors face a 2-year ban on lobbying executive branch officials after donating.
- Donations cannot be converted to personal use, and leftover funds cannot benefit the President, Vice President, their families, or presidential staff.
- Transparency Requirements:
- Donors must disclose any meetings or communications with the President, Vice President, their families, or staff within 1 year before or after the donation, including topics discussed, reported to NPS within 7 days.
- NPS must publish quarterly reports in the Federal Register detailing donations over $200, including donor identities, descriptions, and related meetings.
- Bans "straw donations" (using another's name to hide the source) and anonymous donations.
- Donors affiliated with prohibited entities must attest the gift is not on their behalf.
- Enforcement:
- OGE must issue implementing regulations within 180 days.
- Violations allow for judicial review; the U.S. Attorney General, state attorneys general, or courts can pursue civil actions.
- Civil penalties: Up to $20,000 (or donation value) for smaller violations; up to $100,000 for those over $50,000 annually, plus disgorgement (returning ill-gotten gains).
- Criminal penalties for knowing/willful violations: Fines, up to 1 year in prison (or 5 years for larger violations), plus disgorgement.
- Courts can issue injunctions (court orders to stop actions). A 10-year statute of limitations applies to civil and criminal cases.
- Penalties do not limit other legal remedies.
- Severability: If any part is ruled unconstitutional, the rest remains in effect.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill builds on current federal ethics laws (e.g., gift acceptance rules under 5 U.S.C. § 7342 and the Lobbying Disclosure Act) but introduces targeted prohibitions for "covered projects." Previously, donations for White House maintenance or events could be accepted with fewer restrictions if they fit general gift guidelines. New elements include mandatory dual-agency approvals (NPS and OGE), donor blacklists based on litigation/investigations/lobbying, bans on solicitation by presidential family, enhanced transparency via quarterly reports and meeting disclosures, and strong enforcement with state-level involvement and extended penalties. It also explicitly requires Congressional approval for foreign gifts in this context, tightening emoluments clause (constitutional ban on foreign favors) applications.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative burdens for NPS and OGE through approvals, reporting, and regulations; may limit funding for White House or observatory upkeep, potentially shifting costs to taxpayers or delaying projects.
- Citizens: Reduces opportunities for private funding of public presidential sites or events, which could preserve taxpayer money but limit enhancements or celebrations; enhances public trust in government by curbing perceived "pay-to-play" schemes, though it might restrict nonprofit involvement in historical preservation.
- International Relations: Stricter rules on foreign donations could strain diplomatic ties if perceived as overly restrictive, but they reinforce U.S. anti-corruption standards globally.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Executive Branch: Presidents, Vice Presidents, their families, and appointees (limited in soliciting/using donations); agencies like NPS (handles approvals/reports) and OGE (oversees ethics).
- Donors and Entities: Individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and lobbyists (face prohibitions, disclosure rules, and penalties); foreign governments (require approval for gifts).
- Congress and Oversight Bodies: Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (receive reports); enables broader congressional scrutiny of executive actions.
- Enforcers: U.S. Attorney General and state attorneys general (gain authority to sue); courts (handle reviews and penalties).
- Public and Nonprofits: Tax-exempt groups involved in preservation or events (restricted in funding use and donor recognition).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens ethics enforcement with civil/criminal tools and state AG involvement, potentially increasing lawsuits over donation validity. The 10-year limitations period extends accountability beyond typical statutes (often 5-6 years).
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9, prohibiting federal officeholders from accepting foreign gifts without consent) by mandating Congressional approval; includes severability to protect the law if parts (e.g., speech-related restrictions on donations) face First Amendment challenges for limiting political expression.
- Political: Promotes transparency in presidential circles, addressing concerns over influence-peddling (e.g., in events or monuments), but could be seen as partisan if applied unevenly across administrations. It empowers Congress and states against executive discretion, potentially heightening partisan oversight.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2025-11-18: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Stop Ballroom Bribery Act — issued 2025-11-18 — PDF (17 pages)