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(3) the term ‘‘lobbying activity’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 3 of the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602); 
(4) the term ‘‘officer or employee’’ means— 
(A) an officer (as that term is defined in 
section 2104 of title 5, United States Code) or 
employee (as that term is defined in section 
2105 of such title) of the executive branch of 
the Government; 
(B) the Vice President; and 
(C) the President; and 
(5) the term ‘‘relative’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 3110 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
(b) LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDS.—An officer or em-
ployee may not accept or use any gift or donation for the 
payment or reimbursement of legal fees or expenses in-
curred in investigative, civil, criminal, or other legal pro-
ceedings relating to or arising by virtue of the officer or 
employee’s service as an officer or employee, as defined 
in this section, or as an employee, contractor, consultant 
or volunteer of the campaign of the President or Vice 
President except through a legal defense fund that is cer-
tified by the Director of the Office of Government Ethics. 
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(c) LIMITS ON GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—Not later 
than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Director shall promulgate regulations establishing lim-
its with respect to gifts and donations described in sub-
section (b), which shall, at a minimum— 
(1) prohibit the receipt of any gift or donation 
described in subsection (b)— 
(A) from a single contributor (other than 
a relative of the officer or employee) in a total 
amount of more than $5,000 during any cal-
endar year; 
(B) from a registered lobbyist; 
(C) from a foreign government or an agent 
of a foreign principal; 
(D) from a State government or an agent 
of a State government; 
(E) from any person seeking official action 
from, or seeking to do or doing business with, 
the agency employing the officer or employee; 
(F) from any person conducting activities 
regulated by the agency employing the officer 
or employee; 
(G) from any person whose interests may 
be substantially affected by the performance or 
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nonperformance of the official duties of the offi-
cer or employee; 
(H) from an officer or employee of the ex-
ecutive branch; or 
(I) from any organization a majority of 
whose members are described in (A)–(H); and 
(2) require that a legal defense fund, in order 
to be certified by the Director, only permit distribu-
tions to the applicable officer or employee. 
(d) WRITTEN NOTICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An officer or employee who 
wishes to accept funds or have a representative ac-
cept funds from a legal defense fund shall first en-
sure that the proposed trustee of the legal defense 
fund submits to the Director the following informa-
tion: 
(A) The name and contact information for 
any proposed trustee of the legal defense fund. 
(B) A copy of any proposed trust docu-
ment for the legal defense fund. 
(C) The nature of the legal proceeding (or 
proceedings), investigation or other matter 
which give rise to the establishment of the legal 
defense fund. 
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(D) An acknowledgment signed by the offi-
cer or employee and the trustee indicating that 
they will be bound by the regulations and limi-
tation under this section. 
(2) APPROVAL.—An officer or employee may 
not accept any gift or donation to pay, or to reim-
burse any person for, fees or expenses described in 
subsection (b) of this section except through a legal 
defense fund that has been certified in writing by 
the Director following that office’s receipt and ap-
proval of the information submitted under para-
graph (1) and approval of the structure of the fund. 
(e) REPORTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An officer or employee who 
establishes a legal defense fund may not directly or 
indirectly accept distributions from a legal defense 
fund unless the fund has provided the Director a 
quarterly report for each quarter of every calendar 
year since the establishment of the legal defense 
fund that discloses, with respect to the quarter cov-
ered by the report— 
(A) the source and amount of each con-
tribution to the legal defense fund; and 
(B) the amount, recipient, and purpose of 
each expenditure from the legal defense fund, 
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including all distributions from the trust for 
any purpose. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Director shall 
make publicly available online— 
(A) each report submitted under para-
graph (1) in a searchable, sortable, and 
downloadable form; 
(B) each trust agreement and any amend-
ment thereto; 
(C) the written notice and acknowledgment 
required by subsection (d); and 
(D) the Director’s written certification of 
the legal defense fund. 
(f) RECUSAL.—An officer or employee, other than the 
President and the Vice President, who is the beneficiary 
of a legal defense fund may not participate personally and 
substantially in any particular matter in which the officer 
or employee knows a donor of any source of a gift or dona-
tion to the legal defense fund established for the officer 
or employee has a financial interest, for a period of 2 years 
from the date of the most recent gift or donation to the 
legal defense fund. 
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Subtitle C—White House Ethics 
Transparency 
SEC. 8021. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘White House Eth-
ics Transparency Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 8022. PROCEDURE FOR WAIVERS AND AUTHORIZA-
TIONS RELATING TO ETHICS REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, not later than 30 days after an officer or em-
ployee issues or approves a waiver or authorization pursu-
ant to section 3 of Executive Order No. 13770 (82 6 Fed. 
Reg. 9333), or any subsequent similar order, such officer 
or employee shall— 
(1) transmit a written copy of such waiver or 
authorization to the Director of the Office of Gov-
ernment Ethics; and 
(2) make a written copy of such waiver or au-
thorization available to the public on the website of 
the employing agency of the covered employee. 
(b) RETROACTIVE APPLICATION.—In the case of a 
waiver or authorization described in subsection (a) issued 
during the period beginning on January 20, 2017, and 
ending on the date of enactment of this Act, the issuing 
officer or employee of such waiver or authorization shall 
comply with the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) 
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of such subsection not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(c) OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT ETHICS PUBLIC AVAIL-
ABILITY.—Not later than 30 days after receiving a written 
copy of a waiver or authorization under subsection (a)(1), 
the Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall 
make such waiver or authorization available to the public 
on the website of the Office of Government Ethics. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 45 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the Office of Government Ethics shall submit a report to 
Congress on the impact of the application of subsection 
(b), including the name of any individual who received a 
waiver or authorization described in subsection (a) and 
who, by operation of subsection (b), submitted the infor-
mation required by such subsection. 
(e) DEFINITION OF COVERED EMPLOYEE.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered employee’’— 
(1) means a non-career Presidential or Vice 
Presidential appointee, non-career appointee in the 
Senior Executive Service (or other SES-type sys-
tem), or an appointee to a position that has been ex-
cepted from the competitive service by reason of 
being of a confidential or policymaking character 
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(Schedule C and other positions excepted under com-
parable criteria) in an executive agency; and 
(2) does not include any individual appointed as 
a member of the Senior Foreign Service or solely as 
a uniformed service commissioned officer. 
Subtitle D—Executive Branch 
Ethics Enforcement 
SEC. 8031. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Executive Branch 
Comprehensive Ethics Enforcement Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 8032. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERN-
MENT ETHICS. 
Section 405 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 
(5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2021 through 2025.’’. 
SEC. 8033. TENURE OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF 
GOVERNMENT ETHICS. 
Section 401(b) of the Ethics in Government Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘, subject to removal only for 
inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The 
Director may continue to serve beyond the expiration of 
the term until a successor is appointed and has qualified, 
except that the Director may not continue to serve for 
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more than one year after the date on which the term would 
otherwise expire under this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 8034. DUTIES OF DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOV-
ERNMENT ETHICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402(a) of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by 
striking ‘‘, in consultation with the Office of Personnel 
Management,’’. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR.—Section 
402(b) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App.) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘developing, in consultation 
with the Attorney General and the Office of 
Personnel Management, rules and regulations 
to be promulgated by the President or the Di-
rector’’ and inserting ‘‘developing and promul-
gating rules and regulations’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘title II’’ and inserting 
‘‘title I’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) providing mandatory education and train-
ing programs for designated agency ethics officials, 
which may be delegated to each agency or the White 
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House Counsel as deemed appropriate by the Direc-
tor;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘title II’’ and 
inserting ‘‘title I’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘problems’’ 
and inserting ‘‘issues’’; 
(5) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘issued by the President or 
the Director’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘problems’’ and inserting 
‘‘issues’’; 
(6) in paragraph (7)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘, when requested,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘conflict of interest prob-
lems’’ and inserting ‘‘conflicts of interest, as 
well as other ethics issues’’; 
(7) in paragraph (9)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘ordering’’ and inserting 
‘‘receiving allegations of violations of this Act or 
regulations of the Office of Government Ethics 
and, when necessary, investigating an allegation 
to determine whether a violation occurred, and 
ordering’’; and 
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(B) by inserting before the semi-colon the 
following: ‘‘, and recommending appropriate 
disciplinary action’’; 
(8) in paragraph (12)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘evaluating, with the as-
sistance of’’ and inserting ‘‘promulgating, with 
input from’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘the need for’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘conflict of interest and 
ethical problems’’ and inserting ‘‘conflict of in-
terest and ethics issues’’; 
(9) in paragraph (13)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘with the Attorney Gen-
eral’’ and inserting ‘‘with the Inspectors Gen-
eral and the Attorney General’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘violations of the conflict 
of interest laws’’ and inserting ‘‘conflict of in-
terest issues and allegations of violations of eth-
ics laws and regulations and this Act’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘, as required by section 
535 of title 28, United States Code’’; 
(10) in paragraph (14), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(11) in paragraph (15)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘, in consultation with the 
Office of Personnel Management,’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘title II’’ and inserting 
‘‘title I’’; and 
(C) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(12) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(16) directing and providing final approval, 
when determined appropriate by the Director, for 
designated agency ethics officials regarding the reso-
lution of conflicts of interest as well as any other 
ethics issues under the purview of this Act in indi-
vidual cases; and 
‘‘(17) reviewing and approving, when deter-
mined appropriate by the Director, any recusals, ex-
emptions, or waivers from the conflicts of interest 
and ethics laws, rules, and regulations and making 
approved recusals, exemptions, and waivers made 
publicly available by the relevant agency available in 
a central location on the official website of the Office 
of Government Ethics.’’. 
(c) WRITTEN PROCEDURES.—Paragraph (1) of sec-
tion 402(d) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
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(1) by striking ‘‘, by the exercise of any author-
ity otherwise available to the Director under this 
title,’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘the agency is’’; and 
(3) by inserting after ‘‘filed by’’ the following: 
‘‘, or written documentation of recusals, waivers, or 
ethics authorizations relating to,’’. 
(d) CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.—Section 402(f) of the 
Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in clause (i) of subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘of such agency’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting be-
fore the period at the end ‘‘and determine that 
a violation of this Act has occurred and issue 
appropriate administrative or legal remedies as 
prescribed in paragraph (2)’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (ii)— 
(I) in subclause (I)— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘to the 
President or the President’s des-
ignee if the matter involves em-
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ployees of the Executive Office of 
the President or’’ after ‘‘may rec-
ommend’’; 
(bb) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(II) in subclause (II)— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘President 
or’’ after ‘‘determines that the’’; 
and 
(bb) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(ii) in subclause (II) of clause (iii)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘notify, in writ-
ing,’’ and inserting ‘‘advise the Presi-
dent or order’’; 
(II) by inserting ‘‘to take appro-
priate disciplinary action including 
reprimand, suspension, demotion, or 
dismissal against the officer or em-
ployee (provided, however, that any 
order issued by the Director shall not 
affect an employee’s right to appeal a 
disciplinary action under applicable 
law, regulation, collective bargaining 
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agreement, or contractual provision).’’ 
after ‘‘employee’s agency’’; and 
(III) by striking ‘‘of the officer’s 
or employee’s noncompliance, except 
that, if the officer or employee in-
volved is the agency head, the notifi-
cation shall instead be submitted to 
the President; and’’; and 
(iii) by striking clause (iv); 
(B) in subparagraph (B)(i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)(iii) 
or (iv)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘(I)’’ before ‘‘In 
order to’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(II)(aa) The Director may se-
cure directly from any agency infor-
mation necessary to enable the Direc-
tor to carry out this Act. Upon re-
quest of the Director, the head of 
such agency shall furnish that infor-
mation to the Director. 
‘‘(bb) The Director may re-
quire by subpoena the production 
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of all information, documents, re-
ports, answers, records, accounts, 
papers, and other data in any 
medium and documentary evi-
dence necessary in the perform-
ance of the functions assigned by 
this Act, which subpoena, in the 
case of refusal to obey, shall be 
enforceable by order of any ap-
propriate United States district 
court.’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Subject to clause (iv) 
of this subparagraph, before’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Before’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subparagraphs (A) 
(iii) or (iv)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph 
(A)(iii)’’; 
(D) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking 
‘‘Subject to clause (iv) of this subparagraph, 
before’’ and inserting ‘‘Before’’; and 
(E) in subparagraph (B)(iv)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘title 2’’ and inserting 
‘‘title I’’; and 
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(ii) by striking ‘‘section 206’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 106’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘(iv),’’. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—Section 402 of the Ethics in Gov-
ernment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) For purposes of this title— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘agency’ shall include the Execu-
tive Office of the President; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘officer or employee’ shall include 
any individual occupying a position, providing any 
official services, or acting in an advisory capacity, in 
the White House or the Executive Office of the 
President. 
‘‘(h) In this title, a reference to the head of an agency 
shall include the President or the President’s designee. 
‘‘(i) The Director shall not be required to obtain the 
prior approval, comment, or review of any officer or agen-
cy of the United States, including the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget, before submitting to Congress, or any 
committee or subcommittee thereof, any information, re-
ports, recommendations, testimony, or comments, if such 
submissions include a statement indicating that the views 
expressed therein are those of the Director and do not nec-
essarily represent the views of the President.’’. 
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SEC. 8035. AGENCY ETHICS OFFICIALS TRAINING AND DU-
TIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 403 of the Ethics in Gov-
ernment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding a period at the 
end of the matter following paragraph (2); and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c)(1) All designated agency ethics officials and al-
ternate designated agency ethics officials shall register 
with the Director as well as with the appointing authority 
of the official. 
‘‘(2) The Director shall provide ethics education 
and training to all designated and alternate des-
ignated agency ethics officials in a time and manner 
deemed appropriate by the Director. 
‘‘(3) Each designated agency ethics official and 
each alternate designated agency ethics official shall 
biannually attend ethics education and training, as 
provided by the Director under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(d) Each Designated Agency Ethics Official, includ-
ing the Designated Agency Ethics Official for the Execu-
tive Office of the President— 
‘‘(1) shall provide to the Director, in writing, in 
a searchable, sortable, and downloadable format, all 
approvals, authorizations, certifications, compliance 
reviews, determinations, directed divestitures, public 
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financial disclosure reports, notices of deficiency in 
compliance, records related to the approval or ac-
ceptance of gifts, recusals, regulatory or statutory 
advisory opinions, waivers, including waivers under 
section 207 or 208 of title 18, United States Code, 
and any other records designated by the Director, 
unless disclosure is prohibited by law; 
‘‘(2) shall, for all information described in para-
graph (1) that is permitted to be disclosed to the 
public under law, make the information available to 
the public by publishing the information on the 
website of the Office of Government Ethics, pro-
viding a link to download an electronic copy of the 
information, or providing printed paper copies of 
such information to the public; and 
‘‘(3) may charge a reasonable fee for the cost 
of providing paper copies of the information pursu-
ant to paragraph (2). 
‘‘(e)(1) For all information that is provided by an 
agency to the Director under paragraph (1) of subsection 
(d), the Director shall make the information available to 
the public in a searchable, sortable, downloadable format 
by publishing the information on the website of the Office 
of Government Ethics or providing a link to download an 
electronic copy of the information. 
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‘‘(2) The Director may, upon request, provide printed 
paper copies of the information published under para-
graph (1) and charge a reasonable fee for the cost of print-
ing such copies.’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 408 of the Ethics in Govern-
ment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 8036. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN 
FEDERAL 
EMPLOYEE 
TRAVEL 
IN 
CON-
TRAVENTION OF CERTAIN REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, no Federal funds appropriated or other-
wise made available in any fiscal year may be used for 
the travel expenses of any senior Federal official in con-
travention of sections 301–10.260 through 301–10.266 of 
title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
regulation. 
(b) QUARTERLY REPORT ON TRAVEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act and every 90 days 
thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Oversight and 
Reform of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate detailing travel on Government 
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aircraft by any senior Federal official employed at 
the applicable agency. 
(2) APPLICATION.—Any report required under 
paragraph (1) shall not include any classified travel, 
and nothing in this Act shall be construed to super-
sede, alter, or otherwise affect the application of sec-
tion 101–37.408 of title 41, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, or any successor regulation. 
(c) TRAVEL REGULATION REPORT.—Not later than 
1 year after enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
Office of Government Ethics shall submit a report to Con-
gress detailing suggestions on strengthening Federal trav-
el regulations. On the date such report is so submitted, 
the Director shall publish such report on the Office’s pub-
lic website. 
(d) SENIOR FEDERAL OFFICIAL DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘senior Federal official’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 101–37.100 of title 41, Code 
of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and includes any senior executive branch 
official (as that term is defined in such section). 
SEC. 8037. REPORTS ON COST OF PRESIDENTIAL TRAVEL. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 
days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
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with the Secretary of the Air Force, shall submit to the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report 
detailing the direct and indirect costs to the Department 
of Defense in support of Presidential travel. Each such 
report shall include costs incurred for travel to a property 
owned or operated by the individual serving as President 
or an immediate family member of such individual. 
(b) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘immediate family member’’ means the 
spouse of such individual, the adult or minor child of such 
individual, or the spouse of an adult child of such indi-
vidual. 
SEC. 8038. REPORTS ON COST OF SENIOR FEDERAL OFFI-
CIAL TRAVEL. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 
days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report 
detailing the direct and indirect costs to the Department 
of Defense in support of travel by senior Federal officials 
on military aircraft. Each such report shall include wheth-
er spousal travel furnished by the Department was reim-
bursed to the Federal Government. 
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(b) EXCEPTION.—Required use travel, as outlined in 
Department of Defense Directive 4500.56, shall not be in-
cluded in reports under subsection (a). 
(c) SENIOR FEDERAL OFFICIAL DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘senior Federal official’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 8036(d). 
Subtitle E—Conflicts From 
Political Fundraising 
SEC. 8041. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Conflicts from Po-
litical Fundraising Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 8042. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF CONTRIBU-
TIONS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 109 of the Ethics in Gov-
ernment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(19) as paragraphs (5) through (22), respectively; 
and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) ‘covered contribution’ means a payment, 
advance, forbearance, rendering, or deposit of 
money, or any thing of value— 
‘‘(A)(i) that— 
‘‘(I) is— 
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‘‘(aa) made by or on behalf of a 
covered individual; or 
‘‘(bb) solicited in writing by or at 
the request of a covered individual; 
and 
‘‘(II) is made— 
‘‘(aa) to a political organization, 
as defined in section 527 of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986; or 
‘‘(bb) to an organization— 
‘‘(AA) that is described in 
paragraph (4) or (6) of section 
501(c) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and exempt from 
tax under section 501(a) of such 
Code; and 
‘‘(BB) that promotes or op-
poses changes in Federal laws or 
regulations that are (or would 
be) administered by the agency in 
which the covered individual has 
been nominated for appointment 
to a covered position or is serving 
in a covered position; or 
‘‘(ii) that is— 
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‘‘(I) solicited in writing by or on be-
half of a covered individual; and 
‘‘(II) made— 
‘‘(aa) by an individual or entity 
the activities of which are subject to 
Federal laws or regulations that are 
(or would be) administered by the 
agency in which the covered individual 
has been nominated for appointment 
to a covered position or is serving in 
a covered position; and 
‘‘(bb) to— 
‘‘(AA) a political organiza-
tion, as defined in section 527 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; or 
‘‘(BB) an organization that 
is described in paragraph (4) or 
(6) of section 501(c) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 and 
exempt from tax under section 
501(a) of such Code; and 
‘‘(B) that is made to an organization de-
scribed in item (aa) or (bb) of clause (i)(II) or 
clause (ii)(II)(bb) of subparagraph (A) for 
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which the total amount of such payments, ad-
vances, forbearances, renderings, or deposits of 
money, or any thing of value, during the cal-
endar year in which it is made is not less than 
the contribution limitation in effect under sec-
tion 315(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A)) 
for elections occurring during such calendar 
year; 
‘‘(3) ‘covered individual’ means an individual 
who has been nominated or appointed to a covered 
position; and 
‘‘(4) ‘covered position’— 
‘‘(A) means— 
‘‘(i) a position described under sec-
tions 5312 through 5316 of title 5, United 
States Code; 
‘‘(ii) a position placed in level IV or V 
of the Executive Schedule under section 
5317 of title 5, United States Code; 
‘‘(iii) a position as a limited term ap-
pointee, limited emergency appointee, or 
noncareer appointee in the Senior Execu-
tive Service, as defined under paragraphs 
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(5), (6), and (7), respectively, of section 
3132(a) of title 5, United States Code; 
‘‘(iv) a position in the executive 
branch of the Government of a confidential 
or 
policy-determining 
character 
under 
schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of 
title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; 
and 
‘‘(v) a chief of mission (as defined in 
section 102(a)(3) of the Foreign Service 
Act of 1980); and 
‘‘(B) does not include a position if the in-
dividual serving in the position has been ex-
cluded 
from 
the 
application 
of 
section 
101(f)(5);’’. 
(b) DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.—The Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(1) in section 101— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘With-
in’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘unless’’ and inserting 
‘‘and, if the individual is assuming a cov-
ered position, the information described in 
section 102(j), except that, subject to para-
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graph (2), the individual shall not be re-
quired to file a report if’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) If an individual has left a position described in 
subsection (f) that is not a covered position and, within 
30 days, assumes a position that is a covered position, the 
individual shall, within 30 days of assuming the covered 
position, file a report containing the information described 
in section 102(j)(2)(A).’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), in the first sen-
tence, by inserting ‘‘and the information re-
quired by section 102(j)’’ after ‘‘described in 
section 102(b)’’; 
(C) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘and, if 
the individual is serving in a covered position, 
the 
information 
required 
by 
section 
102(j)(2)(A)’’ 
after 
‘‘described 
in 
section 
102(a)’’; and 
(D) in subsection (e), by inserting ‘‘and, if 
the individual was serving in a covered position, 
the 
information 
required 
by 
section 
102(j)(2)(A)’’ 
after 
‘‘described 
in 
section 
102(a)’’; and 
(2) in section 102— 
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(A) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘Political 
campaign funds’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in subsection (j), political campaign 
funds’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j)(1) In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘applicable period’ means— 
‘‘(i) with respect to a report filed pursuant 
to subsection (a) or (b) of section 101, the year 
of filing and the 4 calendar years preceding the 
year of the filing; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to a report filed pursuant 
to subsection (d) or (e) of section 101, the pre-
ceding calendar year; and 
‘‘(B) the term ‘covered gift’ means a gift that— 
‘‘(i) is made to a covered individual, the 
spouse of a covered individual, or the dependent 
child of a covered individual; 
‘‘(ii) is made by an entity described in item 
(aa) or (bb) of section 109(2)(A)(i)(II); and 
‘‘(iii) would have been required to be re-
ported under subsection (a)(2) if the covered in-
dividual had been required to file a report 
under section 101(d) with respect to the cal-
endar year during which the gift was made. 
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‘‘(2)(A) A report filed pursuant to subsection (a), (b), 
(d), or (e) of section 101 by a covered individual shall in-
clude, for each covered contribution during the applicable 
period— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the covered contribution 
was made; 
‘‘(ii) if applicable, the date or dates on which 
the covered contribution was solicited; 
‘‘(iii) the value of the covered contribution; 
‘‘(iv) the name of the person making the cov-
ered contribution; and 
‘‘(v) the name of the person receiving the cov-
ered contribution. 
‘‘(B)(i) Subject to clause (ii), a covered contribution 
made by or on behalf of, or that was solicited in writing 
by or on behalf of, a covered individual shall constitute 
a conflict of interest, or an appearance thereof, with re-
spect to the official duties of the covered individual. 
‘‘(ii) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics 
may exempt a covered contribution from the application 
of clause (i) if the Director determines the circumstances 
of the solicitation and making of the covered contribution 
do not present a risk of a conflict of interest and the ex-
emption of the covered contribution would not affect ad-
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versely the integrity of the Government or the public’s con-
fidence in the integrity of the Government. 
‘‘(3) A report filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) 
of section 101 by a covered individual shall include the 
information described in subsection (a)(2) with respect to 
each covered gift received during the applicable period.’’. 
(c) PROVISION OF REPORTS AND ETHICS AGREE-
MENTS TO CONGRESS.—Section 105 of the Ethics in Gov-
ernment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) Not later than 30 days after receiving a written 
request from the Chairman or Ranking Member of a com-
mittee or subcommittee of either House of Congress, the 
Director of the Office of Government Ethics shall provide 
to the Chairman and Ranking Member each report filed 
under this title by the covered individual and any ethics 
agreement entered into between the agency and the cov-
ered individual.’’. 
(d) RULES ON ETHICS AGREEMENTS.—The Director 
of the Office of Government Ethics shall promptly issue 
rules regarding how an agency in the executive branch 
shall address information required to be disclosed under 
the amendments made by this subtitle in drafting ethics 
agreements between the agency and individuals appointed 
to positions in the agency. 
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(e) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(A) in section 101(f)— 
(i) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 109(12)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(15)’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (10), by striking 
‘‘section 109(13)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(16)’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (11), by striking 
‘‘section 109(10)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(13)’’; and 
(iv) in paragraph (12), by striking 
‘‘section 109(8)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(11)’’; 
(B) in section 103(l)— 
(i) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 109(12)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(15)’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (10), by striking 
‘‘section 109(13)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(16)’’; and 
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(C) in section 105(b)(3)(A), by striking 
‘‘section 109(8) or 109(10)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion 109(11) or 109(13)’’. 
(2) Section 3(4)(D) of the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(4)(D)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘section 109(13)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
109(16)’’. 
(3) Section 21A of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u–1) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (g)(2)(B)(ii), by striking 
‘‘section 109(11) of the Ethics in Government 
Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 109(11)))’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 109 of the Ethics in Govern-
ment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.))’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h)(2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘section 109(8) of the Ethics in Govern-
ment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 109(8))’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 109 of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)’’; 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘section 109(10) of the Ethics in Govern-
ment Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 
109(10))’’ and inserting ‘‘section 109 of 
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the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
U.S.C. App.)’’. 
(4) Section 499(j)(2) of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 290b(j)(2)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘section 109(16) of the Ethics in Government 
Act of 1978’’ and inserting ‘‘section 109 of the Eth-
ics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)’’. 
Subtitle F—Transition Team Ethics 
SEC. 8051. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Transition Team 
Ethics Improvement Act’’. 
SEC. 8052. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION ETHICS PROGRAMS. 
The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (3 U.S.C. 
102 note) is amended— 
(1) in section 3(f), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) Not later than 10 days after submitting an ap-
plication for a security clearance for any individual, and 
not later than 10 days after any such individual is granted 
a security clearance (including an interim clearance), each 
eligible candidate (as that term is described in subsection 
(h)(4)(A)) or the President-elect (as the case may be) shall 
submit a report containing the name of such individual 
to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House 
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of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.’’; and 
(2) in section 6(b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) a list of all positions each transition team 
member has held outside the Federal Government 
for the previous 12-month period, including paid and 
unpaid positions; 
‘‘(D) sources of compensation for each transi-
tion team member exceeding $5,000 a year for the 
previous 12-month period; 
‘‘(E) a description of the role of each transition 
team member, including a list of any policy issues 
that the member expects to work on, and a list of 
agencies the member expects to interact with, while 
serving on the transition team; 
‘‘(F) a list of any issues from which each tran-
sition team member will be recused while serving as 
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a member of the transition team pursuant to the 
transition team ethics plan outlined in section 
4(g)(3); and 
‘‘(G) an affirmation that no transition team 
member has a financial conflict of interest that pre-
cludes the member from working on the matters de-
scribed in subparagraph (E).’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘not 
later than 2 business days’’ after ‘‘public’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) The head of a Federal department or agency, 
or their designee, shall not permit access to the Federal 
department or agency, or employees of such department 
or agency, that would not be provided to a member of the 
public for any transition team member who does not make 
the disclosures listed under paragraph (1).’’. 
Subtitle G—Ethics Pledge For Sen-
ior Executive Branch Employees 
SEC. 8061. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Ethics in Public 
Service Act’’. 
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SEC. 8062. ETHICS PLEDGE REQUIREMENT FOR SENIOR EX-
ECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES. 
The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 
App. 101 et seq.) is amended by inserting after title I the 
following new title: 
‘‘TITLE II—ETHICS PLEDGE 
‘‘SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For the purposes of this title, the following defini-
tions apply: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘executive agency’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 105 of title 5, United 
States Code, and includes the Executive Office of 
the President, the United States Postal Service, and 
Postal Regulatory Commission, but does not include 
the Government Accountability Office. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘appointee’ means any noncareer 
Presidential or Vice-Presidential appointee, non-
career appointee in the Senior Executive Service (or 
other SES-type system), or appointee to a position 
that has been excepted from the competitive service 
by reason of being of a confidential or policymaking 
character (Schedule C and other positions excepted 
under comparable criteria) in an executive agency, 
but does not include any individual appointed as a 
member of the Senior Foreign Service or solely as 
a uniformed service commissioned officer. 
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‘‘(3) The term ‘gift’— 
‘‘(A) has the meaning given that term in 
section 2635.203(b) of title 5, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation); and 
‘‘(B) does not include those items excluded 
by sections 2635.204(b), (c), (e)(1), (e)(3), (j), 
(k), and (l) of such title 5. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘covered executive branch offi-
cial’ and ‘lobbyist’ have the meanings given those 
terms in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602). 
‘‘(5) The term ‘registered lobbyist or lobbying 
organization’ means a lobbyist or an organization fil-
ing a registration pursuant to section 4(a) of the 
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1603(a)), and in the case of an organization filing 
such a registration, ‘registered lobbyist’ includes 
each of the lobbyists identified therein. 
‘‘(6) The term ‘lobby’ and ‘lobbied’ mean to act 
or have acted as a registered lobbyist. 
‘‘(7) The term ‘former employer’— 
‘‘(A) means a person or entity for whom 
an appointee served as an employee, officer, di-
rector, trustee, partner, agent, attorney, con-
sultant, or contractor during the 2-year period 
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ending on the date before the date on which the 
covered employee begins service in the Federal 
Government; and 
‘‘(B) does not include— 
‘‘(i) an agency or instrumentality of 
the Federal Government; 
‘‘(ii) a State or local government; 
‘‘(iii) the District of Columbia; 
‘‘(iv) an Indian tribe, as defined in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304); or 
‘‘(v) the government of a territory or 
possession of the United States. 
‘‘(8) The term ‘former client’ means a person 
or entity for whom an appointee served personally as 
agent, attorney, or consultant during the 2-year pe-
riod ending on the date before the date on which the 
covered employee begins service in the Federal Gov-
ernment, but does not include an agency or instru-
mentality of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(9) The term ‘directly and substantially re-
lated to my former employer or former clients’ 
means matters in which the appointee’s former em-
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ployer or a former client is a party or represents a 
party. 
‘‘(10) The term ‘participate’ means to partici-
pate personally and substantially. 
‘‘(11) The term ‘post-employment restrictions’ 
includes the provisions and exceptions in section 
207(c) of title 18, United States Code, and the im-
plementing regulations. 
‘‘(12) The term ‘Government official’ means 
any employee of the executive branch. 
‘‘(13) The term ‘Administration’ means all 
terms of office of the incumbent President serving at 
the time of the appointment of an appointee covered 
by this title. 
‘‘(14) The term ‘pledge’ means the ethics 
pledge set forth in section 202 of this title. 
‘‘(15) All references to provisions of law and 
regulations shall refer to such provisions as in effect 
on the date of enactment of this title. 
‘‘SEC. 202. ETHICS PLEDGE. 
‘‘Each appointee in every executive agency appointed 
on or after the date of enactment of this section shall be 
required to sign an ethics pledge upon appointment. The 
pledge shall be signed and dated within 30 days of taking 
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office and shall include, at a minimum, the following ele-
ments: 
‘‘ ‘As a condition, and in consideration, of my employ-
ment in the United States Government in a position in-
vested with the public trust, I commit myself to the fol-
lowing obligations, which I understand are binding on me 
and are enforceable under law: 
‘‘ ‘(1) Lobbyist Gift Ban.—I will not accept 
gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organiza-
tions for the duration of my service as an appointee. 
‘‘ ‘(2) Revolving Door Ban; Entering Govern-
ment.— 
‘‘ ‘(A) All Appointees Entering Govern-
ment.—I will not, for a period of 2 years from 
the date of my appointment, participate in any 
particular matter involving specific party or 
parties that is directly and substantially related 
to my former employer or former clients, in-
cluding regulations and contracts. 
‘‘ ‘(B) Lobbyists Entering Government.—If 
I was a registered lobbyist within the 2 years 
before the date of my appointment, in addition 
to abiding by the limitations of subparagraph 
(A), I will not for a period of 2 years after the 
date of my appointment— 
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‘‘ ‘(i) participate in any particular 
matter on which I lobbied within the 2 
years before the date of my appointment; 
‘‘ ‘(ii) participate in the specific issue 
area in which that particular matter falls; 
or 
‘‘ ‘(iii) seek or accept employment with 
any executive agency that I lobbied within 
the 2 years before the date of my appoint-
ment. 
‘‘ ‘(3) Revolving Door Ban; Appointees Leaving 
Government.— 
‘‘ ‘(A) All Appointees Leaving Govern-
ment.—If, upon my departure from the Govern-
ment, I am covered by the post-employment re-
strictions on communicating with employees of 
my former executive agency set forth in section 
207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree 
that I will abide by those restrictions for a pe-
riod of 2 years following the end of my appoint-
ment. 
‘‘ ‘(B) Appointees Leaving Government to 
Lobby.—In addition to abiding by the limita-
tions of subparagraph (A), I also agree, upon 
leaving Government service, not to lobby any 
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covered executive branch official or noncareer 
Senior Executive Service appointee for the re-
mainder of the Administration. 
‘‘ ‘(4) 
Employment 
Qualification 
Commit-
ment.—I agree that any hiring or other employment 
decisions I make will be based on the candidate’s 
qualifications, competence, and experience. 
‘‘ ‘(5) Assent to Enforcement.—I acknowledge 
that title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 
1978, which I have read before signing this docu-
ment, defines certain of the terms applicable to the 
foregoing obligations and sets forth the methods for 
enforcing them. I expressly accept the provisions of 
that title as a part of this agreement and as binding 
on me. I understand that the terms of this pledge 
are in addition to any statutory or other legal re-
strictions applicable to me by virtue of Federal Gov-
ernment service.’ . 
‘‘SEC. 203. WAIVER. 
‘‘(a) The President or the President’s designee may 
grant to any current or former appointee a written waiver 
of any restrictions contained in the pledge signed by such 
appointee if, and to the extent that, the President or the 
President’s designee certifies (in writing) that, in light of 
all the relevant circumstances, the interest of the Federal 
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Government in the employee’s participation outweighs the 
concern that a reasonable person may question the integ-
rity of the agency’s programs or operations. 
‘‘(b) Any waiver under this section shall take effect 
when the certification is signed by the President or the 
President’s designee. 
‘‘(c) For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the public in-
terest shall include exigent circumstances relating to na-
tional security or to the economy. De minimis contact with 
an executive agency shall be cause for a waiver of the re-
strictions contained in paragraph (2)(B) of the pledge. 
‘‘(d) For any waiver granted under this section, the 
individual who granted the waiver shall— 
‘‘(1) provide a copy of the waiver to the Direc-
tor not more than 48 hours after the waiver is 
granted; and 
‘‘(2) publish the waiver on the website of the 
applicable agency not later than 30 calendar days 
after granting such waiver. 
‘‘(e) Upon receiving a written waiver under sub-
section (d), the Director shall— 
‘‘(1) review the waiver to determine whether the 
Director has any objection to the issuance of the 
waiver; and 
‘‘(2) if the Director so objects— 
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‘‘(A) provide reasons for the objection in 
writing to the head of the agency who granted 
the waiver not more than 15 calendar days 
after the waiver was granted; and 
‘‘(B) publish the written objection on the 
website of the Office of Government Ethics not 
more than 30 calendar days after the waiver 
was granted. 
‘‘SEC. 204. ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) The head of each executive agency shall, in con-
sultation with the Director of the Office of Government 
Ethics, establish such rules or procedures (conforming as 
nearly as practicable to the agency’s general ethics rules 
and procedures, including those relating to designated 
agency ethics officers) as are necessary or appropriate to 
ensure— 
‘‘(1) that every appointee in the agency signs 
the pledge upon assuming the appointed office or 
otherwise becoming an appointee; 
‘‘(2) that compliance with paragraph (2)(B) of 
the pledge is addressed in a written ethics agree-
ment with each appointee to whom it applies; 
‘‘(3) that spousal employment issues and other 
conflicts not expressly addressed by the pledge are 
addressed in ethics agreements with appointees or, 
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where no such agreements are required, through eth-
ics counseling; and 
‘‘(4) compliance with this title within the agen-
cy. 
‘‘(b) With respect to the Executive Office of the 
President, the duties set forth in subsection (a) shall be 
the responsibility of the Counsel to the President. 
‘‘(c) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics 
shall— 
‘‘(1) ensure that the pledge and a copy of this 
title are made available for use by agencies in ful-
filling their duties under subsection (a); 
‘‘(2) in consultation with the Attorney General 
or the Counsel to the President, when appropriate, 
assist designated agency ethics officers in providing 
advice to current or former appointees regarding the 
application of the pledge; 
‘‘(3) adopt such rules or procedures as are nec-
essary or appropriate— 
‘‘(A) to carry out the responsibilities as-
signed by this subsection; 
‘‘(B) to apply the lobbyist gift ban set 
forth in paragraph 1 of the pledge to all execu-
tive branch employees; 
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‘‘(C) to authorize limited exceptions to the 
lobbyist gift ban for circumstances that do not 
implicate the purposes of the ban; 
‘‘(D) to make clear that no person shall 
have violated the lobbyist gift ban if the person 
properly disposes of a gift; 
‘‘(E) to ensure that existing rules and pro-
cedures for Government employees engaged in 
negotiations for future employment with private 
businesses that are affected by their official ac-
tions do not affect the integrity of the Govern-
ment’s programs and operations; and 
‘‘(F) to ensure, in consultation with the 
Director of the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment, that the requirement set forth in para-
graph (4) of the pledge is honored by every em-
ployee of the executive branch; 
‘‘(4) in consultation with the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget, report to the 
President, the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
the Senate on whether full compliance is being 
achieved with existing laws and regulations gov-
erning executive branch procurement lobbying disclo-
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