Presidential Records Certification Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9278 | Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. (D-NY)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Presidential Records Certification Act of 2022
This bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain White House employees to annually certify that they are in compliance with the Presidential Records Act. The bill also establishes civil penalties for knowingly and willfully failing to meet this certification requirement.

To amend chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, to require 
  certifications regarding certain Presidential and Vice Presidential 
                    Records, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Records Certification 
Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. CERTIFICATIONS REGARDING CERTAIN PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE 
              PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 2210. Certifications regarding certain Presidential and Vice 
              Presidential records
    ``(a) Certification.--On an annual basis, and within 30 days after 
the applicable end date, the President, Vice President, any individual 
acting as the President, and each covered employee shall submit a 
written certification to the Counsel to the President--
            ``(1) indicating compliance with this chapter during the 
        year prior to the submission of the certification; and
            ``(2) acknowledging that it is unlawful to knowingly and 
        willingly falsify or fail to file any information that such 
        person is required to include in the certification.
    ``(b) Submission.--The Counsel to the President shall collect and 
maintain all certifications submitted to the Counsel under subsection 
(a).
    ``(c) Failure To File or Filing False Reports.--The Attorney 
General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States 
district court against an individual who knowingly and willfully 
falsifies or who knowingly and willfully fails to file or report any 
information required pursuant to subsection (a). The court in which 
such action is brought may assess against such individual a civil 
penalty in any amount, not to exceed $50,000.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Covered employee.--The term `covered employee' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 2209.
            ``(2) End date.--The term `end date' means--
                    ``(A) with respect to the President or the Vice 
                President, the date on which the President or the Vice 
                President, respectively, is removed from office, dies, 
                resigns, or the then current Presidential term expires;
                    ``(B) with respect to an individual acting as the 
                President, the date on which such individual may no 
                longer discharge the powers and duties of the office of 
                President; and
                    ``(C) with respect to a covered employee, the date 
                on which such individual ceases to be a covered 
                employee.
            ``(3) Individual acting as the president.--The term 
        `individual acting as the President' means an individual, other 
        than the Vice President, who assumes the powers and duties of 
        the office of President pursuant to a vacancy in the office of 
        President by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, 
        or inability.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 22 of 
title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``2210. Certifications regarding certain Presidential and Vice 
                            Presidential records.''.
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