S. 2300

119 S2300 IS: To amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, to appropriately limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers.
 U.S. Senate
 2025-07-16
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 2300  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   July 16, 2025   Ms. Warren  (for herself,  Mr. Blumenthal ,  Mr. Van Hollen ,  Mr. Markey ,  Mr. Whitehouse ,  Mr. Padilla ,  Mr. Wyden ,  Ms. Alsobrooks ,  Mr. Durbin ,  Mr. Schiff ,  Mr. Merkley ,  Mr. Kim ,  Mr. Reed ,  Mr. Sanders , and  Mr. Peters ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs    A BILL
To amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, to appropriately limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers.
1.
Requirements for Presidential Libraries and Centers
Section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(h)
Requirements for Presidential Libraries and Centers
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection—
(A)
the term  donation —
(i)
includes—
(I)
any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person directly or indirectly to a Presidential Library or Center, including donations to the United States Government or another entity for subsequent delivery to the Presidential Library or Center; and
(II)
the payment by any person of compensation or the provision of anything of value for the personal services of another person, for any purpose, which are rendered to the Presidential Library or Center without charging the Presidential Library or Center; and
(ii)
does not include the value of services provided without compensation by any individual who volunteers on behalf of the Presidential Library or Center;
(B)
the term  Federal contractor  has the meaning given that term under section 115.1 of title 11, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto;
(C)
the term  foreign national  has the meaning given that term under section 319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971;
(D)
the term  501(c)(3) tax exempt organization  means an organization which is described in  section 501(c)(3)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
(E)
the term  Presidential Library or Center  means an organization established to raise funds to create, maintain, expand, or conduct activities at—
(i)
a Presidential archival depository;
(ii)
any facility relating to a Presidential archival depository; or
(iii)
any private museum, foundation, center, or other facility that is—
(I)
affiliated with an individual who is serving or served in the office of President;
(II)
established on or after the date on which the first campaign of the individual for the office of President commenced; and
(III)
designed to commemorate the legacy of the individual as a President;
(F)
the term  registered agent of a foreign principal  means a person who is registered or is required to be registered as an agent of a foreign principal (as defined in section 1 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 ( 22 U.S.C. 611 )) under that Act; and
(G)
the term  registered lobbyist  means a lobbyist, as defined in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1602 ), that is registered or required to register under section 4(a) of that Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1603(a) ).
(2)
Restrictions
(A)
Restrictions on source of donations
It shall be unlawful for a Presidential Library or Center, an officer or employee thereof, or the Archivist to solicit, accept, receive, or agree to accept or receive in the future a donation from a person if, on the date on which the donation is solicited, accepted, received, or agreed to be accepted or received in the future—
(i)
the individual for whom the Presidential Library or Center is or will be established is serving in or has been elected to the office of President; and
(ii)
the person from whom the donation is solicited, accepted, received, or agreed to be accepted or received in the future—
(I)
is not registered as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization; or
(II)
is—
(aa)
a registered lobbyist;
(bb)
a registered agent of a foreign principal;
(cc)
a Federal contractor;
(dd)
a foreign national; or
(ee)
seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
(B)
Restrictions on persons making donations
It shall be unlawful for a person to directly or indirectly make a donation, or make an express or implied promise to make a donation, directly or indirectly, to a Presidential Library or Center if, on the date on which the donation or promise is made—
(i)
the individual for whom the Presidential Library or Center is or will be established is serving in or has been elected to the office of President; and
(ii)
the person making the donation or promise—
(I)
is not registered as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization; or
(II)
is—
(aa)
a registered lobbyist;
(bb)
a registered agent of a foreign principal;
(cc)
a Federal contractor;
(dd)
a foreign national; or
(ee)
seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
(C)
Cooling off period for certain donations
(i)
Restrictions on acceptance of certain donations
During the 2-year period following the date on which the individual for whom a Presidential Library or Center is established ceases to serve in the office of the President, it shall be unlawful for the Presidential Library or Center, an officer or employee thereof, or the Archivist to solicit, accept, receive, or agree to accept or receive in the future a donation from a person who, on the date on which the donation is solicited, accepted, received, or agreed to be accepted or received in the future—
(I)
is a registered lobbyist;
(II)
is a registered agent of a foreign principal;
(III)
is a Federal contractor;
(IV)
is a foreign national; or
(V)
is seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
(ii)
Restrictions on persons making donations
During the 2-year period following the date on which the individual for whom a Presidential Library or Center is established ceases to serve in the office of the President, it shall be unlawful for a person to directly or indirectly make a donation, or make an express or implied promise to make a donation, to a Presidential Library or Center if, on the date on which the donation or promise is made, the person making the donation or promise—
(I)
is a registered lobbyist;
(II)
is a registered agent of a foreign principal;
(III)
is a Federal contractor;
(IV)
is a foreign national; or
(V)
is seeking or has received a pardon from the President for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established.
(D)
Conversion of donation to personal use
It shall be unlawful for any person, at any time, to convert a donation to a Presidential Library or Center to the personal use of any person, which shall include a circumstance in which any part of the donation is used to fulfill a commitment, obligation, or expense of a person that would exist irrespective of the responsibilities of the Presidential Library or Center.
(3)
Aggregate donation limit
(A)
In general
It shall be unlawful for any person to make donations to a Presidential Library or Center the value of which, in the aggregate, exceeds $10,000 during the period—
(i)
beginning on the date on which the individual for whom the Presidential Library or Center is established has been elected to the office of President; and
(ii)
ending on the date that is 1 year after the date on which such individual ceases serving in the office of President.
(B)
Indexing for inflation
(i)
In general
At the beginning of the first year during which presidential and vice-presidential electors are chosen after the date of enactment of this subsection, and the beginning of each such year thereafter, the amount described in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the cumulative percent difference determined under section 315(c)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(A) ) since the most recent prior year during which such electors were chosen.
(ii)
Rounding
The amount of an increase under clause (i) shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000.
(4)
Reporting requirements
(A)
Definitions
In this paragraph—
(i)
the term  covered period  means the period—
(I)
beginning—
(aa)
on the date on which the individual has been elected to the office of President; or
(bb)
with respect to the individual serving as President on the date of enactment of this subsection, on the date of enactment of this subsection; and
(II)
ending on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the individual ceases serving in the office of President; and
(ii)
the term  covered person  means a person who made 1 or more donations to the applicable Presidential Library or Center during the applicable calendar quarter in an aggregate amount that is not less than $200.
(B)
Reporting
Not later than 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter occurring during the covered period with respect to an individual who serves as President, a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual shall file with the Archivist a report disclosing any donation during the calendar quarter made by a covered person.
(C)
Contents
A report filed under subparagraph (B) for a calendar quarter shall contain, for each donation of money or anything of value made to the Presidential Library or Center by a covered person during the quarter—
(i)
the amount or value of the donation;
(ii)
the date the donation is received;
(iii)
the name, address, and employer of the individual making the donation; and
(iv)
if the source of the donation is an individual, the occupation of the individual.
(D)
Use of another’s name for donation
During the covered period with respect to an individual who serves as President, it shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly—
(i)
make a donation to a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual in the name of another person;
(ii)
permit the name of that person to be used to effect a donation by another person to a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual;
(iii)
accept a donation to a Presidential Library or Center established for such individual made by one person in the name of another person; or
(iv)
direct, help, or assist any person in making a contribution in the name of another person.
(E)
Publication
Not later than 30 days after the date on which each report is filed under subparagraph (B), the Archivist shall publish the complete report on the website of the National Archives and Records Administration, which shall be available without a fee or other access charge, and in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable format.
(5)
Enforcement
(A)
In general
The Attorney General may bring a civil or criminal action, and the attorney general of any State may bring a civil action, seeking relief for a violation of this subsection in an appropriate district court of the United States.
(B)
General penalty
(i)
Civil
Any person who violates this subsection shall be subject to—
(I)
a civil penalty that does not exceed the greater of $20,000 or the amount equal to the aggregate value of the donations involved in such violation; and
(II)
an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
(ii)
Criminal
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this section shall be—
(I)
fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both; and
(II)
subject to an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
(C)
Increased penalty for large donations
(i)
Civil
Any person who violates this subsection, if the violation of this subsection involves the soliciting, accepting, making, receiving, agreeing to accept or receive, promising to make, conversion, effecting, or reporting of 1 or more donations during a calendar year with an aggregate value of more than $50,000, shall be subject to—
(I)
a civil penalty that does not exceed the greater of $100,000 or the amount equal to the aggregate value of the donations involved in such violation; and
(II)
an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
(ii)
Criminal
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates this subsection, if the violation of this subsection involves the soliciting, accepting, making, receiving, agreeing to accept or receive, promising to make, conversion, effecting, or reporting of 1 or more donations during a calendar year with an aggregate value of more than $50,000, shall be—
(I)
fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both; and
(II)
subject to an order requiring the person to disgorge any donation involved in the violation.
(D)
Types of relief
A court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, upon a proper showing that the person involved has committed, or is about to commit a violation of this section.
(E)
Period of limitations
(i)
Civil
A civil action under this subsection may not be commenced later than 10 years after the cause of action accrues.
(ii)
Criminal
No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense under this subsection, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within 10 years after such offense shall have been committed.
(F)
Indexing for inflation
(i)
In general
At the beginning of the first year during which presidential and vice-presidential electors are chosen after the date of enactment of this subsection, and the beginning of each such year thereafter, the amounts described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) shall be increased by the cumulative percent difference determined under section 315(c)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(A) ) since the most recent prior year during which such electors were chosen.
(ii)
Rounding
The amount of an increase under clause (i) shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000.
(6)
Regulations
The Archivist shall promulgate regulations, which shall be published in the Federal Register, for the purpose of carrying out this subsection.
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