I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4776
To prohibit the President and the spouse of the President from accepting
certain gifts for personal use.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 20, 2002
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Reform
A BILL
To prohibit the President and the spouse of the President
from accepting certain gifts for personal use.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. GIFT DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ‘‘gift’’ means any gratuity,
favor, 
discount, 
entertainment, 
hospitality, 
loan,
forebearance, or other item having monetary value.
SEC. 2. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS FOR PERSONAL USE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President or the spouse of
the President may not knowingly accept a gift for personal
use except as provided in this Act.
(b) GIFTS OF MINIMUM VALUE.—The President or
the spouse of the President may accept a gift which the
President reasonably and in good faith believes to have
a value of less than $50.
(c) CUMULATIVE VALUE FROM A SINGLE SOURCE.—
The President or the spouse of the President may not ac-
cept gifts from a single source having a cumulative value
during a calendar year of more than $100, except that
no gift with a value of less than $10 shall count toward
this annual limit.
(d) DISPOSITION
OF
GIFTS
EXCEEDING
THE
LIMIT.—
(1) ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED
STATES.—If the President or the spouse of the
President accepts a gift, the value of which exceeds
the limit established in subsection (b) or (c), such
gift is accepted on behalf of the United States and
is deemed property of the United States.
(2) DISPOSAL OF GIFTS.—Any gift accepted by
the President or the spouse of the President on be-
half of the United States shall be delivered to the
General Services Administration for disposal.
(e) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE PRESI-
DENT.—A gift to an immediate family member of the
President, other than the spouse of the President, or a
gift to any other individual based upon that individual’s
relationship with the President, shall be considered a gift
to the President, if the gift is given with the knowledge
and acquiescence of the President or the spouse of the
President.
SEC. 3. EXCEPTIONS.
The restrictions in section 3 shall not apply to the
following:
(1) A contribution, as defined in the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et
seq.) that is lawfully made under that Act.
(2) A gift from a relative described in section
109(16) of title I of the Ethics in Government Act
of 1989 (5 U.S.C. App. 109(16)).
(3) A contribution or payment to a legal ex-
pense fund established for the benefit of the Presi-
dent or member of his immediate family, that is oth-
erwise lawfully made.
(4) Informational materials that are sent to the
President, or to the White House, in the form of
books, articles, periodicals, other written materials,
audiotapes, videotapes, or other forms of commu-
nication.
(5) Honorary degrees and other bona fide, non-
monetary awards presented in recognition of public
service.
(6) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers
at death.
(7) Any item, the receipt of which is authorized
by the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (5 U.S.C.
7342).
(8) Anything paid for by the Federal govern-
ment, or by a State or local government.
(9) A gift of personal hospitality, as defined by
section 109(14) of the Ethics in Government Act (5
U.S.C. App. 109(14)), of an individual other than a
registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal.
(10) Free attendance at a widely attended
event, such as a convention, conference, symposium,
forum, panel, dinner, viewing, reception, concert,
sporting event, or other similar event, provided at-
tendance at the event is appropriate to the perform-
ance of the official duties of the President.
(11) A plaque, trophy, or other item that is
substantially commemorative in nature and which is
intended solely for presentation.
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