Cong. Donalds Leads Coalition Looking at Biden Admin's Abuse of Foreign Gifts Disclosure, Lack of Transparency

The Gift Accountability, Registration & Disclosures Act utilizes existing structure of OGE  to finally resolve these reporting inconsistencies and prevent the appearance of undue foreign influence.

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – For over 50 years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and the House Committee on Oversight & Reform have each identified inconsistent compliance, collection, and reporting of foreign gifts by federal government employees. This morning, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) took corrective active action to address the Biden White House's lack of transparency and abuse of foreign gift disclosure guidelines.

The "Gift Accountability, Registration & Disclosures Act" is the 11^th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds during the 119^th Congress, is co-led by Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), and has received the support of:
 

• Concerned Veterans of America;
• Public Citizen; Government Information Watch;
• Foundation for Government Accountability Action; and
• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Specifically, the "GARD Act" utilizes the existing structure of OGE forms 278e and 450 Part 9 to finally resolve these reporting inconsistencies and prevent the appearance of undue foreign influence by promoting gift transparency and government accountability.

Currently, foreign gifts are regulated by 5 U.S.C. §7342, the "Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act." This law  prohibits U.S. Government employees from soliciting foreign gifts and discourages the acceptance of unsolicited foreign gifts except where refusal might embarrass the donor or adversely affect U.S. foreign relations.
 
Gift Reporting Procedure Under 5 U.S.C. §7342:
 

1. Federal employee receives foreign gift on behalf of the United States
2. Within 60 days, the employee submits gift to employing agency
3. Employee reports: (A) Donor, (B) Date, (C) Value, (D) Brief Description, (E) Disposition if known
4. Employing agency reviews and submits employee gift lists to the Department of State Chief of Protocol
5. Department of State reviews and publishes to the Federal Register with no deadline and at will

 
Changes in Gift Reporting Procedure Under the "GARD Act":
 

1. Federal employee receives foreign gift on behalf of the United States
2. Within 60 days, the employee submits gift to employing agency
3. Employee reports: (A) Donor, (B) Date, (C) Value, (D) Description, (E) Specific Disposition on OGE Form 278e / 450 Part 9
4. Employing agency reviews and submits OGE Form 278e / 450 Part 9 to the OGE and sends a copy to the Secretary of State
5. Department of State reviews and publishes to the Federal Register within 30 days of May 15^th of the filing year