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119-hr-2291119th Congress

GARD Act

Sponsored By: Representative Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Introduced

Summary

Would require far stronger public reporting of foreign gifts and decorations. The bill would expand who must disclose foreign gifts, change who gets the reports, and force agencies to publish searchable listings and tracking details.

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  • Federal employees and candidates would face broader rules. The bill would add candidates for President, Vice President, and Congress and any non‑U.S. person or foreign-organized entity to the pool of reportable recipients.
  • Ethics offices and election bodies would take new roles. The Federal Election Commission would handle filings for federal candidates, the Senate Select Committee on Ethics would handle Senators, and the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct would handle House candidates. The Office of Government Ethics and the Secretary of State would coordinate agency reporting.
  • Reporting, tracking, and enforcement would be tightened. Filings would move from January 31 to May 15, include U.S. fair‑market valuation methods, a Personal Property Management foreign gift inventory control number (PPM), current location and disposition, public posting within 30 days of year‑end filing, a $200 late fee after 30 days with a waiver for good cause, and a 120‑day deadline to upgrade agency systems.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.

Broader gift reporting to include relatives

Employees would report gifts involving any non‑U.S. person or entity (not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or U.S.-organized entity). You would disclose for “relatives” under ethics law, not just tax dependents.

Candidates must report foreign gifts

People running for President, Vice President, or Congress would have to file these gift reports. Most candidate reports would go to the Federal Election Commission. Sitting Senators who are candidates would file with the Senate Ethics Committee, and sitting House Members who are candidates would file with the House Ethics Committee.

Federal employees: new deadline, $200 fee

If enacted, the annual filing deadline would move from January 31 to May 15. Agencies and ethics officials would coordinate with the Office of Government Ethics. If you file more than 30 days late, your agency could charge a $200 fee, unless waived for good cause. If your filing is due within 30 days after enactment, these new rules would apply right away.

New limits and permissions on foreign gifts

Agencies would be allowed to accept gifts from a “country of concern” that the Secretary of State designates. If you plan to accept travel tied to a gift, any official use of that gift would have to end first.

More public access to gift reports

Agencies would have to post foreign gift listings for the public within 30 days after the annual filing deadline. Not later than 120 days after enactment, agencies would adapt systems to let the public see these listings, like financial disclosures. Reports would include the gift’s estimated U.S. fair market value, any inventory or tracking numbers, and where the item is or ends up. Agencies would redact sensitive details and include the Office of Government Ethics in related notices.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

FL • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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