US Election 2024

Byron Donalds, Jared Golden eye crackdown on foreign gift-giving to US officials

Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Jared Golden, D-Maine., have joined forces in a bipartisan effort to enhance transparency regarding gifts or perks received by federal government representatives from foreign entities. The Gift, Accountability, Reporting, and Disclosures (GARD) Act, introduced by Donalds and Golden, aims to strengthen the government’s defenses against foreign influence by expanding the definition of a “foreign” gift and imposing stricter disclosure requirements.

Under the proposed legislation, federal employees would face a $200 fine for failing to report a foreign gift within 30 days of receiving it. The bill also raises the reporting threshold for foreign gifts to $480 or more for federal employees, the president, vice president, members of Congress, and other officials and their families. The State Department’s chief of protocol, a politically appointed position, is responsible for collecting this information and submitting a report within 11 days of the end of a presidential term. The GARD Act would introduce a deadline for this data to be publicly disclosed in the Federal Register.

The GARD Act also mandates the State Department to publish its foreign gift list within 30 days of receiving the information and broadens the definition of “foreign” to include non-U.S. businesses and nonprofits. Additionally, the bill standardizes reporting for foreign gifts given to adult children and relatives of government officials. Instead of a political appointee at the State Department overseeing the process, the responsibility would shift to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

Both Republicans and Democrats have raised concerns about recent party leaders and their families benefiting financially from foreign business dealings. The GARD Act seeks to address these concerns and promote accountability and transparency within the federal government.

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Although it remains unclear if House GOP leaders are supportive of the bill, its introduction comes at a time when both Donalds and Golden are considering higher political offices. Donalds recently announced his candidacy for governor of Florida, with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. On the other hand, Golden, a moderate Democrat representing a district won by Trump in previous elections, has been touted as a potential candidate for governor in Maine.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Donalds and Golden on the GARD Act reflects a bipartisan effort to safeguard against foreign influence and promote accountability in government. The proposed legislation addresses concerns about transparency regarding foreign gifts and seeks to strengthen reporting requirements for federal officials. As discussions continue around the bill, it underscores the importance of maintaining integrity and ethical standards within the federal government.

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