Moskowitz Reintroduces Effort to Reform Presidential Library Funding Process Alongside Warren, Blumenthal, Stansbury, Raskin

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) joined Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) to introduce their Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act to close loopholes in the funding of Presidential Libraries.

Moskowitz previously led an effort to increase transparency in this process with his Presidential Library Donation Reform Act during the 118^th Congress.

As it currently stands, there are virtually no restrictions on donations to Presidential Libraries. Even while still in office, Presidents can solicit unlimited, undisclosed donations from anyone for their libraries, including from foreign nationals and from individuals or corporations with business pending before the federal government.

Under the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act, federal law would:

• Ban fundraising while the President is in office, with a carveout for nonprofits: Require that Presidential Libraries wait until the President leaves office before fundraising or accepting donations, except from 501(c)(3) organizations.

• Establish a contribution cap: For 501(c)(3) organizations that can donate while a president is still in office, limit donations to $10,000 total.

• Impose a cooling-off period for donations from foreign nationals, lobbyists, contractors, individuals seeking pardons: For an additional 2 years after the President leaves office, prohibit donations from foreign nationals or foreign governments, registered lobbyists, federal contractors, and individuals seeking presidential pardons.

• Ban conversion of donations to personal use: Bar the use of Library donations for personal expenses or unrelated financial obligations.

• Mandate quarterly disclosures: During the President’s time in office and for 5 years after, require all donations of $200 or more to be disclosed to the National Archives each calendar quarter. Publish donor information (including name, employer, and date and amount of the donation) online in a searchable, downloadable format.

• Prohibit straw donations: Make it illegal to donate in someone else’s name, or to knowingly allow your name to be used for a straw donation.

“Presidential Libraries are an incredible resource for American families to learn about our history and the people who shaped it—but it’s also important we know who’s funding that history,” said Congressman Moskowitz. “Right now, these Libraries are a black box, allowing for anonymous donors and even foreign governments to give unlimited amounts of money. This bill reforms the process so Presidents of all parties are subject to commonsense ethics rules. I led this effort last Congress and am doing it again now because the American people deserve the transparency created under this bill, and all Presidents should be subject to it.”

The Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act is endorsed by nearly ten good-governance groups, including Campaign Legal Center and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

Cosponsoring it in the U.S. House are Reps. Andre Carson (D-IN-07), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), and Nikema Williams (D-GA-05).

Cosponsoring it in the U.S. Senate are Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

For more information on the Presidential Library Anti-Corruption Act, click HERE.

###