To prohibit the President and the spouse of the President from accepting certain gifts for personal use.

Prohibits the President or the President's spouse from knowingly accepting for personal use: (1) any gift with a value of over $50; or (2) any gifts from a single source having a cumulative value during a calendar year of over $100 (excluding gifts valued at less than $10).

Provides that any gift exceeding such limits that is accepted by the President or the President's spouse shall be deemed to be a gift to and property of the United States.

Considers a gift to any other immediate family member of the President or to any other individual based upon that individual's relationship with the President to be a gift to the President, if it is given with the knowledge and acquiescence of the President or the President's spouse.

Specifies exceptions, including election and legal fund contributions, gifts from relatives, and certain honoraria.

[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4776 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4776

    To prohibit the President and the spouse of the President from 
               accepting certain gifts for personal use.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2002

 Mrs. Mink of Hawaii introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To prohibit the President and the spouse of the President from 
               accepting certain gifts for personal use.

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

SECTION 1. GIFT DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``gift'' means any gratuity, favor, discount, 
entertainment, hospitality, loan, forebearance, or other item having 
monetary value.

SEC. 2. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS FOR PERSONAL USE.

    (a) In General.--The President or the spouse of the President may 
not knowingly accept a gift for personal use except as provided in this 
Act.
    (b) Gifts of Minimum Value.--The President or the spouse of the 
President may accept a gift which the President reasonably and in good 
faith believes to have a value of less than $50.
    (c) Cumulative Value From a Single Source.--The President or the 
spouse of the President may not accept gifts from a single source 
having a cumulative value during a calendar year of more than $100, 
except that no gift with a value of less than $10 shall count toward 
this annual limit.
    (d) Disposition of Gifts Exceeding the Limit.--
            (1) Acceptance on behalf of the united states.--If the 
        President or the spouse of the President accepts a gift, the 
        value of which exceeds the limit established in subsection (b) 
        or (c), such gift is accepted on behalf of the United States 
        and is deemed property of the United States.
            (2) Disposal of gifts.--Any gift accepted by the President 
        or the spouse of the President on behalf of the United States 
        shall be delivered to the General Services Administration for 
        disposal.
    (e) Immediate Family Members of the President.--A gift to an 
immediate family member of the President, other than the spouse of the 
President, or a gift to any other individual based upon that 
individual's relationship with the President, shall be considered a 
gift to the President, if the gift is given with the knowledge and 
acquiescence of the President or the spouse of the President.

SEC. 3. EXCEPTIONS.

    The restrictions in section 3 shall not apply to the following:
            (1) A contribution, as defined in the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) that is lawfully 
        made under that Act.
            (2) A gift from a relative described in section 109(16) of 
        title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1989 (5 U.S.C. App. 
        109(16)).
            (3) A contribution or payment to a legal expense fund 
        established for the benefit of the President or member of his 
        immediate family, that is otherwise lawfully made.
            (4) Informational materials that are sent to the President, 
        or to the White House, in the form of books, articles, 
        periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, videotapes, 
        or other forms of communication.
            (5) Honorary degrees and other bona fide, nonmonetary 
        awards presented in recognition of public service.
            (6) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at death.
            (7) Any item, the receipt of which is authorized by the 
        Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (5 U.S.C. 7342).
            (8) Anything paid for by the Federal government, or by a 
        State or local government.
            (9) A gift of personal hospitality, as defined by section 
        109(14) of the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. App. 
        109(14)), of an individual other than a registered lobbyist or 
        agent of a foreign principal.
            (10) Free attendance at a widely attended event, such as a 
        convention, conference, symposium, forum, panel, dinner, 
        viewing, reception, concert, sporting event, or other similar 
        event, provided attendance at the event is appropriate to the 
        performance of the official duties of the President.
            (11) A plaque, trophy, or other item that is substantially 
        commemorative in nature and which is intended solely for 
        presentation.
                                 <all>