Prevent Corrupting Foreign Influence Act

Bill: 115-hr-6466
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]
Introduced: 2018-07-23
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Public participation and lobbying
Latest action: action_date: 2018-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-07-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Prevent Corrupting Foreign Influence Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful for the President, the Vice President, or an immediate family member of the President or Vice President to knowingly accept or receive anything of value from a foreign state or foreign entity, subject to specified exceptions. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill creates a new category of federal employees&#8212;immediate family members of the President or Vice President&#8212;that is subject to statutory restrictions on and penalties for soliciting or receiving a gift from a foreign government or entity. An immediate family member is a parent, parent-in-law, child, or sibling.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6466 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2018 Mr. Swalwell of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit corrupt foreign influence over the President, the Vice President, and their immediate family members, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prevent Corrupting Foreign Influence Act . 2. Foreign influence over the President and Vice President (a) In general Chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 227A. Foreign influence over the President and Vice President (a) Prohibition Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever, being a covered person or covered entity, knowingly— (1) accepts anything of value from a foreign state or foreign entity; or (2) receives anything of value from a foreign state or foreign entity, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. (b) Exceptions Subsection (a) shall not apply— (1) in the case of any investment by a foreign state or entity in a mutual fund, which includes a covered entity in its portfolio; (2) in the case of any investment by a foreign state or entity in an asset held in a blind trust on behalf of a covered person; or (3) in any case in which the covered person acted in accordance with section 7342 of title 5 or the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.). (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered person means the President, Vice President, and their immediate family members. (2) The term covered entity means any entity in which a covered person has not less than a 50 percent ownership interest. (3) The term immediate family member means, with respect to the President or Vice President, a parent, parent-in-law, spouse, child, or sibling of the President or Vice President. (4) The term foreign entity means any entity in which a foreign state has not less than a 50 percent ownership interest. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item related to section 227 the following: 227A. Foreign influence over the President and Vice President. . 3. Receipt and disposition of foreign gifts and decorations Section 7342(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (F), by striking and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end; and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following: (H) a parent, parent-in-law, child, or sibling of the President or Vice President. .