GARD Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Voters should care about this bill because it aims to shed more light on potential foreign influence in American politics and government. When public officials or those seeking office receive gifts from foreign entities, it can raise questions about whether their decisions or actions are truly serving the American public's best interest, or if they might be influenced by outside donors.

If this bill becomes law, it would significantly increase transparency around who is receiving foreign gifts, what those gifts are, and where they ultimately end up. This increased public access to information would allow voters to better scrutinize potential conflicts of interest and hold their elected officials and candidates more accountable. If the bill does not pass, the current system with less public disclosure and potentially fewer individuals covered by reporting requirements would remain in place, making it harder for the public to track foreign gifts to officials and candidates.

KEY PROVISIONS

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Requires federal agencies to make listings of foreign gifts received by employees publicly available online.

This significantly increases transparency, allowing the public to see foreign gifts received by government officials.

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Expands the scope of foreign gift reporting to include candidates for President, Vice President, and Congress.

This broadens accountability for foreign influence beyond just current federal employees to those seeking high federal office.

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Prohibits federal employees from accepting gifts from any country designated as a 'country of concern' by the Secretary of State.

This provision directly addresses national security and foreign policy risks associated with gifts from potentially adversarial nations.

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Changes the annual deadline for agencies to submit foreign gift lists to May 15 and requires submission to both the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of State.

This ensures earlier and more comprehensive oversight of foreign gifts by key ethics and diplomatic agencies.

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Establishes a $200 late fee for employees who fail to submit their foreign gift statements within 30 days of the due date.

This creates a direct financial incentive for individuals to comply with reporting requirements in a timely manner.

DEADLINES & DATES

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120 days after enactment of the GARD Act

Agencies must adapt systems to enable public access to foreign gift listings.

30 days after the date of enactment of this Act

New reporting requirements for individuals' foreign gift statements go into effect.

May 15

Annual deadline for federal agencies to submit compiled foreign gift listings to the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of State.

Within 30 days after May 15 of the filing year

The Secretary of State must publish the compiled listing of foreign gifts.

30 days after the date on which such statement is required to be submitted

Late fee applies to employees who file a foreign gift statement.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

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TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
administrative	$200	Any employee who files a foreign gift statement 30 days after the required submission date

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Foreign Gift: A gift or decoration given to a federal employee or their relative by a foreign government or a foreign individual/entity.
Disposition (of a gift): What happens to a gift after it is received, such as whether it's kept by the recipient, stored by an agency, sold, or sent to an archive.
Country of Concern: A foreign nation officially designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as posing specific concerns, such as national security threats or human rights violations.
Office of Government Ethics (OGE): An independent agency within the executive branch that provides overall leadership and oversight of the ethical conduct of federal employees.
Federal Employee: An individual working for the U.S. government in an executive, legislative, or judicial branch position.
Candidate (for Federal office): An individual running for election or nomination to the office of President, Vice President, or Member of Congress.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

MAR 24, 25

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

MAR 24, 25

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

INTROREFERRAL

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Oversight and Government Reform CommitteeReferred

Mar 24, 2025

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LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

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ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

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GARD Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

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GARD Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

GARD Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

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