Make State Governments More Open, Honest, and Transparent Act of 2019
This bill requires the head of a federal agency that administers any of specified block grant programs to suspend the authority of a state to administer funds under a program if the state does not enact or enforce at least one law that (1) requires disclosure by a state legislator of financial interests, (2) prohibits a legislator from soliciting political party or election campaign contributions, or (3) prohibits the making or soliciting of contributions during a period of contractor performance or negotiations.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3069 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3069
To suspend the authority of a State to administer funds under Federal
block grant programs if the State does not enact certain conflict of
interest protections, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 3, 2019
Mr. Kildee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on
Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the
Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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 suspend the authority of a State to administer funds under Federal
block grant programs if the State does not enact certain conflict of
interest protections, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Make State Governments More Open,
Honest, and Transparent Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL STANDARDS RELATING TO STATE CONFLICT OF INTEREST
PROTECTIONS.
(a) In General.--The head of a Federal agency that administers a
Federal block grant program in a fiscal year shall take the following
actions with respect to a State that is in noncompliance as described
in subsection (b) on the first day of the fiscal year:
(1) Suspend the authority of the State or any political
subdivision of the State to administer funds made available to
the State or subdivision under the Federal block grant program
in that fiscal year.
(2) Exercise the authority of the State described in
paragraph (1) in that fiscal year, including the selection of
the projects to be carried out in the State or subdivision
under the Federal block grant program.
(b) Requirement.--A State shall be treated as being in
noncompliance as described in this subsection with respect to a fiscal
year if the Director of the Office of Government Ethics determines that
the State has not enacted or is not enforcing one or more of the
following laws on the first day of the fiscal year:
(1) A law that requires an individual serving as a member
of the legislature of the State to prepare and make available
to the public an annual report disclosing the financial
interests of the individual during the preceding year.
(2) A law that prohibits an individual serving as a member
of the legislature of the State to solicit or require, either
directly or indirectly, an employee of the individual to make a
financial or in-kind contribution to a political party or a
political campaign.
(3) A law that makes it unlawful for any person--
(A) who enters into any contract with the State
(including any department or agency of the State)
either for the rendition of personal services or
furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment to the
State or for selling any land or building to the State,
if payment for the performance of such contract or
payment for such material, supplies, equipment, land,
or building is to be made in whole or in part from
funds appropriated by the State, at any time between
the commencement of negotiations for and the later of
(i) the completion of performance under, or (ii) the
termination of negotiations for, such contract or
furnishing of material, supplies, equipment, land, or
buildings, directly or indirectly to make any
contribution of money or other things of value, or to
promise expressly or impliedly to make any such
contribution to any political party, committee, or
candidate for State public office or to any person for
any political purpose or use; or
(B) knowingly to solicit any such contribution from
any such person for any such purpose during any such
period.
(c) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Federal block grant program.--The term ``Federal block
grant program'' means each of the following:
(A) The Student Support and Academic Enrichment
Grants program of the Department of Education.
(B) The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant Program of the Department of Energy.
(C) The following programs of the Department of
Health and Human Services:
(i) The Child Care and Development Block
Grant program.
(ii) The Community Mental Health Services
Block Grant program.
(iii) The Community Services Block Grant
program.
(iv) The program for Low Income Home Energy
Assistance grants.
(v) The Maternal and Child Health Services
Block Grant program.
(vi) The Preventive Health and Health
Services Block Grant program.
(vii) The Program of Block Grants to States
for Social Services under title XX of the
Social Security Act.
(viii) The Substance Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Block Grant program.
(ix) The program of Block Grants to States
for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
under part A of title IV of the Social Security
Act.
(x) The Title V Abstinence Education Block
Grant program.
(D) The Homeland Security Grant Programs (Urban
Area Security Initiative, State Homeland Security Grant
Program, and Operation Stonegarden) of the Department
of Homeland Security.
(E) The following programs of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development:
(i) The Community Development Block Grant
program.
(ii) The Indian Community Development Block
Grant program.
(iii) The Emergency Solutions Grant
Program.
(iv) The HOME Investment Partnerships
Program.
(v) The Indian Housing Block Grant program.
(vi) The Native Hawaiian Housing Block
Grant program.
(F) The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance
Grant program of the Department of Justice.
(G) The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
program of the Department of Labor.
(H) The following programs of the Department of
Transportation:
(i) The Federal Aviation Administration
Airport Improvement State Block Grant Program.
(ii) The Surface Transportation Block Grant
Program.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the 50 States,
the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
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Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Financial Services, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.