Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-14
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2021-01-22 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Germany
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Human rights
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Judicial procedure and administration
Oil and gas
Organized crime
Pipelines
Russia
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-22
text: 

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of State to develop a program to combat corruption in foreign countries. 
 
The State Department must annually report to Congress a tiered list of all foreign countries. The first tier shall contain countries that meet minimum standards for combating public corruption, while the second tier shall contain countries that do not yet meet these standards but are making significant efforts to do so. Third-tier countries do not meet the minimum anti-corruption standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.
 
The State Department must evaluate and report on foreign persons engaged in grand corruption in all third-tier countries for the imposition of specified sanctions.
 
The State Department must also designate an anti-corruption point of contact in the U.S. diplomatic post in each second- or third-tier country and where the State Department determines that such a point of contact is necessary. The point of contact shall be responsible for coordinating a whole-of-government approach to enhancing the ability of foreign countries to combat public corruption.

action_date: 2021-06-24
text: 

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021

 
This bill requires the Department of State to develop a program to combat corruption in foreign countries. 
 
The State Department must annually report to Congress a tiered list of all foreign countries. The first tier shall contain countries that meet minimum standards for combating public corruption, while the second tier shall contain countries that do not yet meet these standards but are making significant efforts to do so. Third-tier countries do not meet the minimum anti-corruption standards and are not making significant efforts to do so. Factors for assessing efforts to address corruption include a country's compliance with specified relevant international agreements.
 
The State Department must report on whether, for purposes of potential sanctions, foreign persons are engaged in significant corruption in third-tier countries or in relation to the planning, construction, or operation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. 
 
The State Department must also designate an anti-corruption point of contact in the U.S. diplomatic post in each second- or third-tier country and where the State Department determines that such a point of contact is necessary. The point of contact shall be responsible for enhancing coordination and promoting the implementation of a whole-of-government approach to enhancing the ability of foreign countries to combat public corruption.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 88.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-01-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-01-22
text: Introduced in Senate